Stage Curtain opens on Merry Poppins

Kumpanija Teatru Rjal's stage curtain opened yesterday on MERRY POPPINS... FIL-MILIED at the Catholic Institute Auditorium. Today, Sunday another twoperformances will follow, one in the morning at 10.00 and another at 16.00. Other performances will take place on Wednesday 26th at 14.30 and 19.30, Thursday 27th at 19.00, Friday 28th at 19.00, Saturday 29th at 19.30 and Sunday 30th at 14.00 and 18.30.  Performances will resume in January with a New Year's Day Special at 18.30; Friday 4th at 19.30, Saturday 5th at 19.00, Sunday 6th at 14.00 and 18.30, Saturday 12th at 19.00 and Sunday 13th at 14.00 and 18.30.

This year's panto takes us to London... a long time ago... where the Banks family resides. This is a bank employee's family, with servants and two children, a girl and a boy. The children are so naughty that their nanny decides to leave. Eventually Mr. Banks has to find another nanny. He wants a disciplined nanny to raise up his children into true British disciplined citizens. The children want something very different.

They want a nanny who plays with them. By hook or by crook the children get everything their own way and there comes Mary Poppins... a nanny who flies with an umbrella, performs magic and wants everyone to sing during all they do. Mr. Banks is not amused and wants his children to learn how much he works for them at the bank instead of singing all day! He decides to fire Mary but in turn she convinces him oftaking his children to his place of work to learn about his job.

Mr Banks agrees and takes his children to the bank where he works... a bank belonging to Willie Scrooge... son of the late Ebenezer Scrooge. At Scrooge's place, another two persons reside; Desperate Dan and Dennis the Menace, two well known robbers...

Versatile actor/artist Toni Busuttil plays the Dame and leads a cast which includes Mario Snits Spiteri, Renzo Bonello, Rodney Gauci, Brian Farrugia, Ina Robinich, Neville Refalo, Laura Bruno, Alan Falzon, Mario Camilleri, and Franky Borg among others. This year's panto, directed by Augusto Cardinali will again include dancing by the Yada Dance Company choreographed by Felix Busuttil. For the 12th consecutive year, Neville Gatt will be the musical director of the live orchestra.

Original story and script are penned by Joe Julian Farrugia while Pawlu Testa is the producer. One may book online on www.istitutkattoliku.com or www.kumpanijateatrurjal.com. Tickets may also be purchased from the bar or booking office at the Catholic Institute in Floriana, from tereza Bazaar of Zabbar, Carmen Azzopardi of Rabat or Pawlu testa Travel of Gwardamangia (21223340).