Curtain up!

Midsea Books has published ‘Curtain up!’, a substantial volume containing a selection of 176 reviews in full text published by Paul Xuereb during the years (1963-2015) when he was the leading drama critic for The Sunday Times of Malta.

The major part of the reviews are of productions by Maltese drama groups including MADC, Masquerade, the now defunct Atturi, , Unifaun, Talenti, Maleth, University Players, Ateatru, Bronk, Du and many other mainstream groups. The reviews also include productions by visiting personalities and companies, notably London’s National Theatre, Cheek by Jowl, Globe Theatre’s Touring Company, Micheal MacLiammoir, Franca Valeri, Italian commedia dell’arte companies, and many others. Students and keen theatre-goers can use the book’s Index of Names to follow the development from their early beginnings of actors like Karmen Azzopardi, Monica Attard, Manuel Cauchi, Godwin Scerri, Alan Montanaro, Edward Mercieca, Anthony Ellul, Mario Philip Azzopardi, Simone Spiteri, Alan Paris and M. Basmadjian, and directors like Joe Friggieri, Chris Gatt, Salvu Mallia, Immanuel Mifsud, Marcelle Teuma and Anthony Bezzina.

Many of the reviews also carry production photos, in addition to which there are several pages of colour theatre illustrations. Marco Galea, the book’s editor, has written a scholarly introduction giving the reviews a historical background, and he has also provided an Appendix listing the 2000 or so reviews published by Xuereb during the same period. Students of the theatre, academics in this field, and the many people for whom the theatre has provided much joy and entertainment will find a treasure trove of information.