Have you ever encountered the real true St Joseph? Not the mysterious unapproachable figure often portrayed in sacred art and literature but the simple and humble hard-working carpenter, deeply involved in his family’s daily life.
Experience the Joseph you’ve hardly ever met before, the man, the father, unique in the history of mankind, and the gentle and virginal husband of Mary, the Mother of God.
Witness his daily chores, his anxieties, his doubts and preoccupations, his wild imaginings, his deep love for Mary before the whole scenario altered dramatically.
Meet the man who desired nothing, wanted nothing that was not for the greater glory of God. Believe in the man who was almost imperturbable, even in adversities. Relive his manhood, the call, and the mission of sublime proportions given to him.
This is Joseph, the man closest to Christ, the man of destiny. Know about his seven sorrows and joys and while sharing in his extraordinary life feel yourself drawing closer to Joseph and his workbench, Joseph and his humility, the story of a man chosen and loved by god inasmuch as he is chosen to Joseph and to the Son of God on earth. For Joseph with an example will lead us, will teach us, will pray for us. He will guide us, equip us, work with us, protect us and abide with us. And after watching this two-act musical, this sublime performance, then decide to “Go to Joseph”!
This musical, penned by composer Dominic Galea and lyricist Raymond Mahoney, is the latest in a number of such works by the duo and is being produced and presented once again by the Kummissjoni Zghazagh Guzeppini Ghaxqin to the public, especially devotees of St Joseph, the patron of a holy and happy death. Directed by ever innovative and strikingly renowned artiste Zep Camilleri, the musical offers a two-and-a-quarter hour journey of exhilaration with Joseph, son of David.
Christian Arding portrays a most convincing Joseph, while Eleanor Cassar portrays the young motherly figure of Mary. Actor and singer Neville Refalo stars as Jesus in his maturity, while tenor Aldo Busuttil plays Gabriel. Other biblical characters are interpreted by some of the best local performers and include Triccas, Doreen Galea, Charlene Vella, Joe Quattromani, young yet very promising Clifford, Julie Pomorsky, actor Carlos Farrugia, Mauro Kitcher, Malcolm and Thomas Bonnici. Extras included, the cast spirals up to around one hundred.
St Joseph is one of the most popular and familiar saints worldwide and his image is today very much in the foreground after centuries of neglect and questionable abandon. The libretto amply provides a convincingly down-to-earth approach to this father figure while extolling his virtues by reference to quotes by holy fathers, saints, the blessed, members of the clergy, theologians and doctors of the church, while the music is hauntingly stimulating ranging from the classical and Gregorian chant to the more contemporary vibes and modern idiom as befits a musical of the 21st century.
Jien Guzeppi is being performed on Saturday, 5 May at 7.30pm and Sunday, 6 May at 6.30pm, at the theatre of the Catholic Institute, Floriana.
Bookings from the Institute, St Joseph Band Club Ghaxaq, the Holy family and St Joseph Band Clubs at Kalkara, the Melita, St Joseph Band Club Msida, the I-Isle Adam Band Club, Rabat or the De Rohan, St Joseph Band Club, Zebbug.
Also by telephoning 2189-7754, 2123-8429, 2124-2551, 7905-3425
or 2182-3150, or by visiting
www.sanguzeppghaxaq.com
Jien Guzeppi is all about a man called Joseph whom you will take to your heart.