Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/832512
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 4 JUNE 2017 40 This Week AS all the world's a stage, so San Anton Gar- dens will once again be transformed into a theatre for the Malta Amateur Dramatics Club's annual Shakespeare performance. In fact, rehearsals are already underway for the retelling of the Bard's The Taming of the Shrew, which will be staged from July 14-23 and directed by the renowned Polly March. TOTS is one of Shakespeare's best-known comedies, although it does have its darker moments. The main plot depicts the court- ship of Petruchio and Katherina – the head- strong, obdurate shrew. "Katherina maybe be an unwilling participant in the relation- ship but Petruchio 'tames' her with a variety of psychological torments until she becomes a desirable, compliant, and obedient bride," March says. "The challenge we're facing is how best to alter the perception that this play is, at its darkest, about spousal abuse. This is a love story, about two people who find their match – and their equal – in each other." Of course, The Taming of The Shrew is also a farce. "In it Shakespeare is showing us up for what we are, or what we could be," the director adds. "The audience is not meant to take the situation seriously. It's commedia." The cast is also rising to the challenge of treading this delicate balance. It includes Philip Leone Ganado, Becky Camilleri, Tina Rizzo, Gianni Selvaggi, Alexander Gatesy Lewis, Laura Best and Jonathan Dunn. Mu- sic on the night will be performed by young saxophonist Samuel Mallia, which prom- ises to be another highlight of this delightful evening under the stars. "We are thrilled to return to be returning to San Anton Palace with another Shakespeare production," says MADC artistic director Marylu Coppini. "This is an important an- nual tradition for the club and one that has been taking place, in one form or another, for over 60 years. It has become part of the MADC's identity, as well as a source of in- spiration for the acting members of the club that provides an undeniable theatrical benchmark for them to aspire to. "The Taming of the Shrew was a great choice for this year because it is firm fa- vourite among Shakespeare's comedies. The Club has already produced it on numerous occasions, in 1972, 1989 and 2005, so 2017 marks another exciting milestone in our his- tory of producing it!" The Taming of the Shrew will take place at San Anton Gardens in Attard from July 14 to 23. Tickets are available online at www.madc.com.mt They like to form letters of the alphabet on our walls: p, d, q, b, l, s, o. Maybe they're trying to tell us something, but more likely they'll be just sleeping off the day after a night of scouting around for damp nooks and crannies. Millipedes (M: Ħanex tal-Indewwa or Millipied) are not the most charismatic of creatures, indeed the sum wisdom most people have of them is that they stink when handled – well, it's their weapon against aggressors, so it's legitimate self defence. Despite their name, millipedes have nowhere near a thousand legs but can still boast a respectful 150, sometimes more. Imagine having to move all those appendages in sync just to walk about – quite an achievement especially to those among us who sometimes stumble in our own two legs! Millipedes pose no threat to humans. On the contrary, they do us an excellent service by eating rotting plants, which speeds the breakdown of plant material and the return of their nutrients to the soil. The perfect little gardeners! Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation - www.foemalta.org/donate Text Victor Falzon Photo Desirée Falzon 10 actions for a biodiverse Europe – Introduction 560. COMMON MILLIPEDE GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 463 SHOE AND BOOT MAT - Place a folded-up newspaper beside the door and keep wet and muddy footwear on it to prevent staining the carpet. The EU has spent more than two years evaluating its foundational nature protection laws – the Birds and Habitats Directives. Now they have been found "fit for purpose". But with just three years remaining in which to reach the 2020 goal of halting the loss of biodiversity in the EU, now is the time for a redoubling of action to secure a positive future for Europe's nature. To unleash the power of the Nature Directives, they must be much more fully enacted and applied across the EU. The evaluation study of the Nature Directives carried out by the EU concludes that "problems with the pace and extent of progress towards the objectives of the Directives are not due to the legislation itself but stem from its implementation. Friends of the Earth Malta believe we all thrive when nature thrives. Having vibrant nature in our lives is a need and a right.1 The EU and every national and regional government must now intensify action to care for and restore the nature we love and need. Annual 'Shakespeare in the Gardens' will be held from July 14-23 and will be directed by Polly March MADC to stage Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew The MADC returns to the San Anton Gardens with a production of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Photo by Sebio Aquilina