Bronk Production’s revival of Joseph Vella Bondin’s black comedy Is-Sur Mastru, Bella, il-Professur u Progetti Ohra at the Catholic Institute (Sunday, 11 April) was another chance to admire the author’s deft

handling of his narrative elements, his superb use of the Maltese language, his fine array of subtle humour and some larger than life characters. While the second act is a brilliant exposé of current local ambitions, the plotting in the first act is an essay in dramaturgical development. Renowned

director John Suda and his bunch of first-rate actors made the most of the many histrionic opportunities afforded them by the comedy.

The fusion of thoughts lavished by the author on the audience maintains its interest in a family that is always trying to keep up with the Joneses. What makes the play disturbing is Vella Bondin’s ability to focus on the socio-educational message he wants to pass on. This is also present in the other plays of this inspiring author, whereby he manages to give a

contemporary feel and highlight the values through which a progressive society is passing. One gets the feeling that the dramatic talent of JVB is becoming more and more widely appreciated and the merit due to him as probably our leading living dramatist acknowledged.

I have had occasion before to comment on the state of the Maltese

theatre, and Bronk’s production has provided me with the chance to come back to this subject. While what is normally labelled ‘teatrin’ continues to thrive, ‘serious’ theatre seems to be moribund. The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts has now re-introduced the Francis Ebejer contest and has even expanded it in a variety of ways. This is an admirable venture which, hopefully, will be continued and persevered with, since it will take some time for the results to become evident. But other initiatives must also be explored for our native theatre to gain the following it had in the decades immediately following Independence.

My love for the theatre developed when, as a teenager, I was taken to the Manoel and other theatres for special school productions of plays, etc. Are we still offering this extra curriculum activity to our students? And which play texts are we requiring our Metsec students to study? Are they interesting, easy to read and stimulating? Will they provide a launching pad to encourage our students to go to the theatre in later life?

Jack Grech

ZURRIEQ