After a very succesful debut with Animal Farm, Lemonhead embarked on another ambitious project, that of staging Cervantes's novel Don Quixote. Although the play, penned by Adrian Scerri has only the slightest hint of the real story, the main idea was brought alive in today's surroundings.

This is an interview we did with Director Bryan Muscat in December 2001.

"I really wanted to come and see Don Quixote because I love the original novel by Cervantes. What made you choose such a classic Bryan?"

Well I consider myself to be a history enthusiast. I love reading about the history of the world and one of the things that fascinates me most is religion. Religion is an integral part of the history of man. Undoubtedly, a religion which left a particular impact was that of Roman Catholicism - based upon the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Many sects branched off from this religion.

A story of great interest to me is that of the Essenes, which is related with the Templars' story. Later on Freemasonry came into the picture and the mystery that surrounds these stories is thrilling. Why did the first nine Templar Knights unite in truth? What did they find when they excavated the temple of Jerusalem? Why did they gain rapid importance in the Church? How did they become rich so suddenly? Why were they executed as heretics in the 1200's? Why are there connections between the Templars and the Freemasons? Getting back to your question: reading more about these stories never tires me and this curiosity inspired me to stage Don Quixote.

"I see. Sounds very interesting. So who played Don Quixote?"

I did.

"Oh really? Great! So you had to chase windmills!"

No, I didn't chase anything except the occasional priest. It is known that Don Quixote fought windmills and was obsessed about becoming a Templar knight, but in our adaptation of Don Quixote's story however, we saw the sixty-three year old man in a different context. Alfonso, of Spanish origin, had been living in Malta for a long time. He had reached the end of his life. A sturdy man with solid principles. He was very intelligent and kept his mind stimulated by reading books, but its not the first time that his emotions overruled his rational thinking. Obsessed about the story of the Templars, Alfonso is convinced that he can join them through Freemasonry. In our play Don Quixote we dealt with the conflict between the anti-clerical ideas of Alfonso and the outdated and dogmatic ideas of Dun Indri, the priest I chased. The sweet word of the young local parish priest plays a part in this too.

"So, basically, you took the original character of Don Quixote and placed him in today's Malta. Right?"

That's right but that's not all. How would you react if such a character was your neighbour? We had to include how people around him reacted to him. The village nosey parkers in our play showed their influence in our society with their usual gossip, distortion of facts, and recounted the village happenings. They see Alonso's family as misfits. And they definitely do not approve of Alonso cultivating his young nephew Jacques in the same mentality.

"But in the end did Alfonso manage to achieve what he sought for, or did he give up? And why would he teach his nephew what he knew?"

Whether he achieved what he sought for or not is a matter of opinion and I think that if one had to ask our audience members one would find conflicting views. I think he did. As for his nephew the mystery of Don Quixote lives in him today.

Don Quixote was staged on: 7, 8, 9 December 2001 at the MITP theatre St. Christopher's Street Valletta.

CAST & CREW

Don Quixote - Bryan Muscat
Kappillan - Chrysander Agius
Yvonne - Ethel Kawki
Juanita - Stephanie Webster
Rosita - Josianne Mallia
Dun Indri - Silvio Galea
Lourdes - Aveline Farrugia
Marija - Pauline Cordina
Jacques - Mark Ellul
Agatha - Emma Borg
Bertu - Louis Debono
Eileen - Monica Micallef
Gorg - Lawrence Buontempo
Grace - Antionette Vella
Roberta - Kimberly Cioffi
Philip - Ryan Micallef
Owen - Glenn Sacco
Psikjatra - Alan Fenech
Therese - Gertrude Borg Marks
Ray - Jesmond Cauchi
Vicky - Julie Camilleri
Rose - Doriana Francica
Sandy - Celine Abela
Spettur Borg - Joanne Galea
Nurse Joanne - Alison Camilleri
Nurse Tracy - Tricia Fabri
Pulizija - Owen Bonnici
Prezentatur - Kenneth Scicluna
Prezentatrici - Lindsay Buttigieg
Mason 1 - Kenneth Scicluna
Mason 2 - Lindsay Debattista
Tabib - Noel Borg
Fencers - Alan Fenech / Lyuba Fenech
Katerina - Lyuba Fenech
Zeffiena - Celine Abela / Tricia Fabri

Stage Manager - Joe Callus
Make Up - Tony Busuttil
Production Design - Daniel Zerafa
Website - Silvio Galea
Lights - Louise Muscat
Script - Adrian Scerri
Direction - Bryan Muscat
Production - Louise Muscat / Bryan Muscat