It's a 'Tale As Old as Time'... but certainly not the Disney version! Coryse Borg speaks to the madcap duo behind this year's adult panto Beauty and the Beast - due to hit The University Theatre's stage early next month.
"Our take on 'Beauty and the Beast' involves the tale of the gorgeous and innocent Belle who gets entrapped by a terrible beast who looks like a giant... part of the male anatomy. Meanwhile the baddest baddie in history, who just happens to have a Panama connection, is making a play for ultimate power. And the Dame who has found herself completely broke and is desperate for cash has only one way of saving the day. Which involves ping-pong balls."
This in a nut shell (pun intended!) is the plot of this year's adult panto, which, once again is written and directed by all-round funnyman Steve Hili. It features a terrific cast which includes Malcolm Galea (who plays the Dame - whose name cannot be possibly published in a Sunday family newspaper), as well as Kris Spiteri, Maxine Aquilina, Stefan Farrugia, Naomi Said, Chantelle Micallef Grimaud, Chiara Hyzler and Luke Mercieca.
"The cast is awesome," grins Steve, who is currently taking a hiatus from doing stand-up comedy in the UK, "They 'get' what the show is, and what we are trying to do. Everyone is working their socks off... but the process is fun. They understand the silliness and revel in it. Whenever I have had a scene or line which I think might be perceived by the cast as 'too much', not only do they take it on - but they top it! It is amazing."
Steve says that he loves the local traditional Christmas pantomime and has been involved in quite a few of them. During the long, long nights of production week when actors were literally living in the theatre, he would pass the time by changing the words to some of the songs to make them ruder. Soon he began to wonder about creating an adult version of the panto. And the rest is history.
"I know they do that sort of thing in England but I wanted it to be different. This developed into the idea of an anti-panto... making it naughty instead of nice, for adults instead of kiddies and performing it in summer instead of at Christmas time," he explains, "It is so liberating to write this show. My twelve-year-old inner child comes out and runs amok. The hardest part is that because of my comedy commitments in the UK I have had to miss parts of the preparation process."
If you are into subtle theatre productions that talk about the human condition and life lessons, Steve admits that this might not be the show for you.
"But if you fancy letting your hair down and getting involved in an unapologetic night of naughty, silly humour... book your tickets now," he says with a grin.
Steve says that he is extremely lucky to be working in partnership with Michael Fenech who is producing the adult panto once again. And Michael is equally as complimentary about Steve and his script:
"Steve Hili's adult panto is unique. It flies in the face of all convention. Its style is 'in your face', the situations are unashamedly silly; the humour totally liberated from the constraints of boring political correctness. The script is a blast of anarchic hilarity with an eye on the foibles of our 'elders and betters'. No celebrity, institution or politician is safe. Why should people come to watch it? Mostly because it is going to be a marathon of fun," he says, "People enjoy a good laugh, especially at the expense of our holy cows, and let's face it, our politicians are providing us with more material than even we can handle!"
That leaves just one question... will audiences be seeing Steve in a mankini this year, as we did in previous years? Well, you'll just have to toddle off to watch 'Beauty and the Beast' at Sir Temi Zammit Hall at The University Theatre in Tal-Qroqq on Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th of June. Tickets are available now from www.showshappening.com and start from only €12, including free parking.