After producing two sell out musicals - My Fair Lady and Mamma Mia - earlier this year, FM Theatre Productions make the move back to the Teatru Manoel with their latest show, Sleeping Beauty. Both matinée and evening performances will be staged between 23 December and 6 January and, to welcome in the panto-season, a 10 per cent early-bird discount on all tickets is available from now until the end of November.
In this adventure-packed tale, the evil fairy Maleficent - seeking revenge for not being invited to Aurora's christening - curses the newborn princess, foretelling that she will die on her 16th birthday by pricking her finger on a spinning wheel's spindle. Prince Charming, together with the help of Dame Nanna Kola (played by dame extraordinaire Edward Mercieca), three good-fairies and Muddles, attempt to break the evil spell and get rid of Maleficent for good.
With over 30 years' experience under his belt, panto veteran and founder of FM Theatre Productions, Mercieca, is well-acquainted with the essential elements of a panto that audiences have come to know and love. "We promise good-old manly dame, a chase, funny walks, slapstick, magic, comedy and great sing-alongs will make for an all-round colourful spectacle - all performed in the beautiful Teatru Manoel," he said. Indeed, FM Theatre Productions are firm believers in tradition and their pantos are made up of all the well-known ingredients that are intrinsic to a heart-warming and hilariously witty show.
Returning to the same fairytale that marked his debut as the pivotal role of Dame, during the formative years of his career, Mercieca commented that the Teatru Manoel is a unique and magical setting, and its warm intimacy makes it the perfect home for the yearly Christmas pantomime. As is to be expected, the audience is in for a series of surprises, which, of course, the producer is hesitant to disclose. "What I can tell you is that the Teatru Manoel will be hosting three dazzling flying fairies - played by Antonella Mifsud, Maria Cassar and Nicole Cassar - which is going to be a spectacle in itself, as well as a huge dragon for the final battle!"
Since founding FM Theatre Productions in 1998, Edward and his wife Marika have expanded the company's vision over the years to include a repertoire of over 20 productions - from musicals to straight plays including the award-winning Butterflies Are Free - and, of course, several pantos.
Sleeping Beauty will feature a talented cast including Chiara Hyzler as the comic Muddles, Gianni Selvaggi as Prince Charming, Raquel Theuma as Princess Aurora, Tezara Camilleri as Maleficent, Rambert Attard and Karen Decelis as the two bumbling hench-persons, Analise Cassar as Queen Astra and her twin sister Sybil, and Matthew Cassar as King Basil.
'Sleeping Beauty' is being staged at Teatru Manoel at 3 and 8pm on 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 December and 2, 3, 5 January. There will be another show on 4 January at 8pm and on 6 January at 3pm. Tickets are available from www.teatrumanoel.com.mt, with a 10 per cent early-bird discount until 30 November.