The Malta Independent on Sunday
Certified hilarious
As local theatre company Exit Stage Right gets set to bring the internationally acclaimed musical comedy Certified Male to Malta’s stage, catches up with the play’s award-winning cowriter
For award-winning Australian actor, singer, writer, theatre producer and director Glynn Nicholas, inspiration struck for his play Certified Male in the somewhat unlikely form of a book by psychologist Steve Biddulph.
“Biddulph’s bestseller, Manhood, opens with the words ‘Most men are not fully alive’. It hit a lot of heads of nails for many men and women when it was released in Australia. It clarified my clouded thinking as it did for many, addressing the problems and possibilities confronting men in their daily lives.”
Struck by Biddulph’s exploration of modern-day masculinity, Glynn penned the Certified Male script alongside fellow award-winning writer Scott Rankin, originally to be part of the 1999 Melbourne International Arts Festival where it extended its run to become the biggest grossing show of the Festival.
The comedy’s underlying universal themes of manhood, mortality, friendship, political correctness and long-term relationships have since given it enduring popularity with audiences around the world, including in South Africa, Ireland, Sweden, Iceland, the UK, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand. Certified Male has received rave reviews such as The Age (Melbourne) naming it an ‘undisputed hit’ and the West Australian saying it has the ‘extraordinary skill to move you to paralytic laughter one instant and tears the next… brutally frank and seriously funny’.
The latest on the ever-growing list of countries to stage Certified Male will now be Malta, since local theatre company Exit Stage Right, founded by local theatre veteran Nanette Brimmer, was granted the highly-sought-after rights to the show. Known for its former successes I am my Own Wife and Every Brilliant Thing, which Nanette herself directed, Exit Stage Right will be staging the show at the Teatru Salesjan in Sliema for a limited run this October – with Glynn himself directing.
“It’s always a good feeling to put on the show, as I remember once again how important shows like this are. This is a show for anyone who has ever been in a long-term relationship, so I recommend you don’t wear mascara to Certified Male unless it’s waterproof,” Glynn continues. “Malta is lovely and sunny, with warm people, and I’ve no doubt they will love the show. Not only will they relate to the men and their story women particularly but they will laugh themselves sick. One person literally dies from laughter at each performance: that alone is worth the price of the ticket.”
With four actors and a piano player, the show tells the story of three middle-management men who have been coerced into attending a weekend workshop on company strategy at an exotic location, as planned by their managing director. Many hilarious surprises and mishaps await them at their mystery destination, intensified by the men’s distinct impression that someone may not be returning to work on Monday.
The play’s set is famously minimalist, with the actors using mime, dramatic scenes, standup comedy and choreographed physical set pieces to tell the story, offset by seven original songs by acclaimed Australian songwriters Paul Kelly, Dennis Aubrey and Mark Seymour, under the musical direction of MRO Paul Abela in the Malta production. “We chose to use mime and music in the show mostly to stress out actors,” smiles Glynn. “It also looks super cool when it’s done well.”
Fortunately for Glynn, four of Malta’s finest comedy actors have risen to the challenge of performing Certified Male locally for the first time: Stephen Oliver, Alan Montanaro, Alan Paris and Joseph Zammit. “It’s fun to work with these actors. They are fabulous, they’re a total delight, and they’re all onto it,” continues Glynn. “The two Alans have a well-established reputation, and Stephen Oliver and Joseph Zammit also really shine. And all four can sing! We never get that in Australia!”
The renowned comic performers were also faced with an additional challenge that they may not have experienced before. Since nearly all the show’s props are mimed, Glynn led the Malta cast in an intensive mime ‘boot camp’, to help them create the many physically demanding and eye-wateringly funny set pieces such as imaginary fishing boats, golf courses, monkeys, and even jellyfish.
“Crushing their spirits will not be easy, but I will be doing my level best to bring each man to his knees,” Glynn laughs. “But seriously, I have a great feeling about this cast, and there is no doubt in my mind that the comedy will be there in bucketloads, as well those unexpected poignant moments that has given Certified Male such a lasting legacy.”
Certified Male is produced by Exit Stage Right and is being performed at the Teatru Salesjan, Sliema on 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 October 2019, with all performances starting at 8pm. Booking is now open online at www.ticketline.com.mt. This project is supported by the Arts Council Malta and the Malta Arts Fund.