Sinbad The Tailor - On Tour

Today was our first-ever performance as the Panto cast.

We visited two events – the World Children's Day celebration at Ta' Qali, and the San Anton School Christmas Market. In both cases, we performed one of the dance numbers from Panto, gave out leaflets, smiled at small children and generally promoted the show (Panto at MFCC! Bigger and better! Parking no problem!).

We started off by mustering at the clubhouse to change into our costumes and go through the routine one last time (although I think it is more or less second nature by now). The MADC very kindly laid on a coach for us to travel in, to save hassle with parking multiple cars at each destination, and we promptly began calling it the Tour Bus (a feeling much enhanced when the Chairperson handed around Panto posters and masking tape for us to fill the windows with!). Filing onto it felt a bit surreal because as another chorus member put it, it was like being back in school again and going on an outing.





We set off in high spirits, singing Panto songs and improvising on football cheers. One of our number used to be an air steward so he gave us the safety speech over the coach's PA system, and our new MADC chairperson acted as tour guide, pointing out the traffic camera, orange tree and other features of the Attard main road.








To make absolutely certain we wouldn't be late, we actually arrived in Ta' Qali quite early. We didn't need to change or do make-up because we'd already done all that back at the clubhouse, so we used to time to walk around and mingle with all the families out for the day, and distribute leaflets. After an impromptu dance session next to the DJ (gathered quite a crowd!) we headed back to the amphitheatre.





The facilities there were surprisingly good – several toilets, showers even, and lots of lockers to stash our stuff in. The stage was a bit challenging though – our dance routine had been choreographed for three or four entrances and we only had two – two very narrow ones at the top of garigores! There wasn't anywhere to leave our shoes and socks (we were performing barefoot) or anything else for that matter. We lined the stairwell with our footwear, and I stuffed my spectacles into one of my shoes and hoped fervently that no-one would step on them.

In this particular routine, I kick everything off by going out there by myself, and then the stage sort of explodes with colour as everyone else comes on. We carefully arranged ourselves on the stairs in order of entrance, with me at the front of the line on our side of the stage. When I heard my cue (well actually I didn't hear my cue because it's hard to hear it out-of-doors but anyway) I step-ball-change'd my way onto the stage – and promptly fell over because I hadn't realised that there was a step DOWN onto the stage... well I managed to recover with just a stumble so it worked out all right.

The rest of the routine is a bit of a blur – when you're on stage it's as though everything condenses, your world consists of the familiar moves and your body takes over on autopilot. Your mind gets to focus on the two big things – one is smiling, and the other is making sure you get to where you need to be! Actually at one point my smile turned into giggles because of the big fixed grin on the face of my dance partner, who knows full well that on stage you smile, smile, smile, but that was OK too.

We had been worried about dancing barefoot on the outdoor stage, but it was OK – there wasn't any sharp debris on the ground. The only thing we really didn't like was being out on such a cold and windy day (gusts up to 28 km/hour!) in Panto costumes which are designed for visibility but most definitely not to protect the wearer from the elements. During the actual dancing we're too busy moving to feel cold, but right before and right after were rather... chilly. Talk about suffering for your art.

The casts of the two other big Christmas shows who will be our main competition for audiences were also there to perform at Children's Day, but since they were scheduled quite some time before and after us, I didn't get to see their numbers. I'm told by someone who was there for all three performances that our was the best, but then again my source is admittedly biased in our favour *grin*. Still, encouraging to hear!





After Ta' Qali, we headed off to San Anton School, which was a completely different experience. This time we were indoors (yay!) but we were dancing in a very, very small space surrounded on three sides by onlookers pressing in and on the fourth by a big display including breakable *meep* items. There wasn't enough space to do all our moves but we improvised and danced very close to each other. At one point I was supposed to circle around my dance partner but he quickly warned me that there wasn't much space behind him – I realised that in order to do the move, I'd have to wade through the display... so I spun around on the spot instead.


On the way back home, we were a subdued lot, worn out from the afternoon's excitement, but it was a good kind of subdued - we performed well in both venues although the conditions were less than ideal, and I think we enjoyed the experience.

Back at the clubrooms, we piled out and the chorus members went off to change while the cast who hadn't been in costume prepared tea and coffee and went out to get pizza and pastizzi for everyone. We sat on chairs, benches and stools that had been pulled into a rough oval, surrounded by scenery, sipping our hot drinks and soft drinks, and it was then that I had a real feeling of camaraderie. Everyone had tried very hard, everyone had done well, and we had performed as a team, both those of us on stage and those who helped get us there.

So, final verdict, a good afternoon.


Tomorrow starts the final push up to opening night which is just under four weeks away. The frequency and duration of rehearsals have been increased, and we are all dreading production week, but performing today has provided some encouragement because we saw what happens as a result of our hard work in the rehearsals.

Roll on tomorrow...

Interview: Sharon

Name: Sharon Attard
Panto Role: Chorus Girl number five
Non-Panto Role: Professional Blondie

So, how did you get into theatre in the first place?
It was just for the fun of it – I was at a weekend retreat in 2002, and someone else was planning on auditioning for the MADC One-Acts. They were leaving in the middle of the retreat to go audition, and I tagged along. I had never performed in theatre before!

And Panto? How did that come about?
It was a bit later – I had just done the One-Acts in 2004. I had been in a two-hander so I had quite a good part, and I did well. So I decided that I wanted to do more that year. It had been on my mind for a couple of years to try for Panto but I had other things going on and I knew I couldn't make the big commitment that Panto requires. But that year I was on a gap year, so I had time, and I was interested in the story of Snow White, and I knew that Steve Casaletto would be directing the Panto and I liked him as a director. So I decided to try for Panto! I ended up having a second audition and I got the part of the Swedish dwarf, and it was lots of fun.





What do you like most about Panto?
The fact I end up losing weight in rehearsals because they're so active! Panto is exhausting but lots of fun, you get to hang out with lots of cool people, and it's fun to be on stage and perform.

What do you hate about Panto?
It's very time consuming, and you rarely ever have a moment to yourself!

What has been your best ever theatre moment?
Well for me it was 2004 in general, because I had both the One-Acts and Panto and I was lucky enough to be with really nice people doing it all.

So what was your worst ever theatre moment?
That was in the Snow White Panto! I was very sick during one performance, and me and all the dwarves got involved in a conversation backstage. We were so into our conversation that we missed our cue and left people hanging on stage! We got a bollocking afterwards, quite rightly.

So what has been your most embarrassing theatre moment?
My most embarrassing event happened on stage during Snow White – I got my heel caught in the trap door so I was in a dance routing, trying to look like I was dancing but in reality I was trying to get free!

And what has been your most special theatre moment?
When Panto was over! We spent the last few performances all dying for it to be over, because we wanted our personal lives back, but then when Panto really was over, it was really emotional. I wasn't expecting it to get as emotional as I did at all, but when you spend two to three months seeing the same people every single day, then when you go back to your normal life you miss them!






What is one phrase which will now and forever always remind you of this Panto?
Ħaqq it-tiģieģ bil-kulur!

What is something special about you that no-one else knows?
I played in the pool with Pierce Brosnan's son when we were both two years old!

If you could play any role at all in any performance, what would it be?
I would want it to be in Panto because it's fun, you can have a laugh with it. It would probably be fun to play one of the evil henchmen, because you can go all out and really exaggerate with the facial expressions, tone and everything. Panto is the one place you can really do that without worrying that you will be over the top!

If you could give a piece of advice to someone just starting out in theatre, what would it be?
Modesty has no place in Panto (or theatre in general), not when you get involved in productions where you have to wear sequinned hotpants!

Panto Dictionary

Panto - short for Pantomime, a musical theatre show performed during the Christmas season.

Musical Theatre - a form of theatre combining drama, song and dance.

Dance - to move the body rhythmically to music.

Floorwork - dance performed sitting, lying or kneeling.

Bruises - injuries to underlying tissue not involving breaking of the skin.

*groan* - noise made by a chorus member approximately two days after a dance rehearsal involving floorwork.

Cast I'm-starving-let's-go-eat outing

After most rehearsals, most of the chorus/cast/etc goes out somewhere. I don't usually go (it's not a terribly good idea when you have to get up at 6am the next day) but last night I tagged along.

The eatery of choice was Fra Giuseppe, and the decision took a surprisingly short time to make (usually there's at least twenty minutes involving a litany of restaurants and 'But I don't like it there' and 'But their food isn't very good' before anything approaching a consensus can be reached).


We all were rather... ripe... after a very energetic dance rehearsal, but we were able to sit outside so it didn't matter. As more of our number trickled in, we had to keep commandeering more tables and chairs, but eventually all twenty-plus of us were seated.

Most people had ftira or wraps, and the food looked quite good. I didn't eat because I'd just eaten before rehearsal and wasn't hungry, but all reports were good so I'd like to try it some other time.


The undisputed highlight of the evening was the chocolate fondue which one of our number ordered. It came with four skewers, a plate full of marshmallows, and a small bowl of chopped nuts. Pretty soon, skewers were being passed around the table, and the fondue was a big hit. A certain member of the chorus (who shall remain nameless) even dispensed with the skewers entirely but then discovered that hot melted chocolate can burn fingers.

I have made a pact with a fellow chorus girl (who also abstained from the nutty chocolate-dipped marshmallow confections) that once the Panto is over and all threats of revealing costumes are behind us, we will go back to Fra Giuseppe and over-indulge in chocolate fondue. Roll on January!


The nice thing about going out with a bunch of musical theatre performers is that there's often free entertainment provided by your dinner companions. Last night we were treated to an acapella concert by three of the guys. They started off with some good old-fashioned bop-she-wop, then headed into eighties pop, and wound up doing techno.

We finished off the evening by serenading the neighbours with a song from a musical (ain't gonna say which song because all Panto content is top-secret because of The Competition) and then we dispersed.

All in all, a nice relaxed evening, thoroughly deserved after all the energy we expended hurling ourselves around the dance floor.


I'm off to dream of chocolate-dipped marshmallows.

Interview: Maxine

Name: Maxine Calleja Urry
Panto Role: Chorus
Non-Panto Role: Disaffected Student

How did you come to be in the theatre scene?
Well it started when I was nine years old. Edward Mercieca from Fagin's Drama School was on the lookout for new students, and he was friends with my uncle.

And after that?
About a year later, I started going to Stagecoach Theatre Arts School. It was my idea, no-one pushed me. In the meantime I had tried all kinds of things – horseriding, pottery, arts and crafts – but nothing 'stuck'. Drama kind of stuck - it was lots of fun. I was actually very, very shy and introverted when I was younger (cue snorts from Maxine's friends). No, it's true! But drama helped me with that!

How about Panto, how did you come to be involved in it?
I had always wanted to be in the Panto, ever since I watched my first one - Sinbad the Sailor. I was very young, about five years old, but I remember being scared out of my wits, terrified I'd get eaten. I remember walking out of the theatre afterwards thinking, “Good, I didn't get eaten!”.
I've watched every single MADC Panto since then, and once I began going to drama school I started to think, “I could be on stage doing that!”. Actually I went to audition when I was thirteen years old, only to find out that was too young so I had to go back home!

What is your favourite genre in theatre?
It's definitely musicals, they're my comfort zone. I was brought up listening to musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar, and I love to sing, so I feel more comfortable with musicals than with straight plays. I love being in Panto because it's a good experience, the people are so much fun, and it's a nice thing to do over Christmas. And you get to scare kiddies!

What has been your most embarassing theatrical moment so far?
When I was twelve years old, I was singing with the school choir on stage, and I had a solo. Half-way through my solo, I forgot all the lyrics! I just stood there gaping like a goldfish, like a deer caught in headlights! Mind you, that was the last time I ever completely forgot my lines... it was the last time I ever fatally fluffed, knock on wood. *raps on the parquet floor*

What has been your best theatrical experience so far?
So far the best was the first main part I ever got in a big show. I was fifteen years old and Stagecoach were putting on a production of Bugsy Malone. I auditioned but I never expected I'd get a main part, I never thought I'd be good enough and I was expecting to be in the chorus. So when I got the letter telling me I had been chosen as the leading lady, I was really surprised as well as excited. It feels even better when you don't see these things coming!

And what has been your worst theatrical experience?
The worst was the first time I was ever turned down for a show I had auditioned for. I was thirteen or fourteen, and I don't even remember what show it was, but I remember getting the rejection letter and being completely broken up about it.

And finally, what has been your most special theatrical experience?
That during rehearsals for last year's Panto, I started going out with my boyfriend, Nathan! We would go around Valletta during the breaks between morning rehearsals and evening rehearsals. It was romance at the Manoel! Now Panto reminds me of that and just makes everything even more special.

If you could play any role at all, in any production, what would it be?
I would love to play Elphaba in Wicked! It's my dream role, if only I could sing it! Otherwise I would like to play Cathy in 'The Last Five Years'. These are both strong leading women with strong voices and interesting roles instead of just being damsels in distress!

If you could give one piece of advice to a person thinking about getting involved in the world of theatre, what would it be?
Enthusiasm! If you try hard enough at it, you will get there eventually. You might not be the best but at least you can be the best that you can be. There's no point in giving up because you're not the best in the cast. Really it's more about the people you'll meet than about the roles you'll get! Also, be very, very humble because if you're very full of yourself then when you lose a role it hurts more.

Say something nice about someone else in the cast.
I love my boyfriend Nathan!

And lastly... what's a phrase that will now forever remind you of this year's Panto?
Ħaqq it-tiġieġ bil-kulur!

Panto Diary Interviews

I'd like to conduct and publish a series of interviews with members of the Panto cast and crew because, although this blog is about my experiences in the Panto, it doesn't have to be ONLY about me.

So tonight I'll post the first one, and the second should be ready in a couple of days. If you're at all involved in the Panto and would like to be interviewed, let me know. Otherwise I shall be asking/cornering random people as and when opportunity presents itself.

So you can start thinking of witty and interesting things to say from now... (just kidding!)

The long way home.

Besides offering me opportunity for performance through song, dance and drama, and also the chance to forge new friendships, the Panto is also causing me to become more familiar with the geography of the Hamrun-Santa Venera area.

I used to live up in Mrieħel as a child, but then we moved and I've never really had cause to spend much time up in that neck of the woods. Now, however, I am heading there most nights in the week, usually by bus.

The Hamrun main road looks interesting – lots of shops, which is handy with Christmas coming up. I plan to explore it more in the coming weeks as I have some time to kill between work and rehearsals. I shall work my way along the road, a section at a time.

I've also discovered a DVD shop near the clubrooms, and subscribed to it. This week I found out that they have some classic musical films so I shall work my way through them. Doris Day, Judy Garland, aaah...

Just opposite the DVD shop there's a music shop that I had never been to before – Barbara's. I've already bought a set of drum brushes (hopefully I will figure out how to use them) and I have my eye on a shoulder rest but the shop owner was very dubious that I would be able to figure out a way to attach one to my electric violin. I'm not very good at violin yet, and I've been making do with a bandanna I nicked off my sister, so I've been trying to get hold of a shoulder rest because it should help with my technique (and Lord knows I need all the help I can get). So yes, plenty of retail opportunity over there by the Sta Venera pjazza.


Yesterday after dance rehearsal I got a lot better acquainted with the local geography.

Usually I get the bus to just before the Fleur De Lys roundabout and then walk down to the Santa Venera Pjazza, but I imagine that I should be able to get off at an earlier bus stop and take a more direct route. The thing is, I don't know the way through the side streets from the main road to the Pjazza. So my plan was to go to rehearsal on Saturday afternoon like I usually do, but then afterwards attempt to head out the main road more directly, to find out which way to go.

So, that's what I did. After Miss Alison was finished with us (and nearly finished us) I walked from the Pjazza to Barbara's music shop (which is on a corner) and I headed down the left-hand road. I walked down it, looking out for the Hamrun-Santa Venera main road. After a little bit, I saw a busy road a few blocks to the left. It was in the wrong direction but I investigated it anyway. It turned out to be the main road that runs by St. Philip's Hospital. Not the road I was looking for.

I backtracked and continued on my way.


I walked and walked and walked and walked... it was back streets all the way, and I had no idea where I was. Eventually I found myself by Centro Casalinga. I definitely took a wrong turn somewhere. I took the opportunity to look around the Lidl over there, but they didn't have any wellington boots.

From there, I turned right and walked a little more. In the distance I saw the back of a statue of a saint high up in the air, floodlit and presumably on the top of a church. I figured that civilisation (or that part of it which I was in search of) lay over there. Finally I ended up somewhere more or less familiar. I was pretty sure that I was in Hamrun, and that it wasn't far from the Floriana-Marsa main road, from where I could get a bus straight home instead of getting one towards Valletta first. So since there wasn't far to go, and since it was downhill, I decided to keep walking instead of getting on a bus from where I was.

So I walked some more, and finally I did unequivocally recognise where I was.

Blata l-Bajda.

Great.


I was at the roundabout just downhill from the Maria Regina school. Fine, I turned right and slogged uphill past the football club until I reached the Hamrun main road, the road I had been in search of all this time.

I was right at the end of Hamrun, all I needed to do was to get to the Floriana-Marsa road and cross it.

I spotted an alley leading downhill which probably led to that road. I peered cautiously down it, looking for dark shadows that could be hiding potential muggers, but although it looked less than salubrious, it was decently lit and completely deserted.

So that's how I got to the Floriana-Marsa road, but I was still on the wrong side of it and I didn't fancy taking my life into my hands to cross it. No worries, I thought, there's a set of traffic lights just a little ways down the road. A little ways, hah.

Well I did eventually get there, I crossed the road and got to my bus stop. Total time spent walking – one hour.

Not the quickest way to get home, but good for burning a few calories I suppose.


Next time, I think I'll turn right at Barbara's.