University of Adelaide Theatre Guild Presents a Staged Reading of THE JEW OF MALTA

The Theatre Guild's 2017 season begins with a staged play reading of The Jew of Malta, one of the most popular dramas of the 1590s.

response to the Turks' threat to call in the ten years tribute owed by the Knights of Malta, the Governor Ferneze announces his plan to deal with the crisis by levying a tax of one half of their estate on all the Jews. When Barabas, the rich Jew of the title, appeals against the imposition of this tax, the whole of his estate is seized and his mansion converted into a nunnery. Incensed by this discriminatory policy and opportunistic attack on the Jewish community, Barabas declares his enmity to the Christian Governor and assisted by his infidel Turkish slave, Ithamore, begins his spectacular and often hilarious murderous intrigues involving poisoned nuns, unscrupulous friars, and multiple betrayals, culminating in a giant boiling cauldron!

Marlowe's mix of tragedy and bitter farce is dazzling and witty and the result is exuberantly theatrical. With brazen confidence moments of horrendous prejudice are punctuated with inane jokes. Mindless prejudice is brought flamboyantly into the open and amplified with savage intelligence. Christians, Muslims and Jews are to be judged equally and hypocrisy and murder know no religious bounds in this dark satiric and cynical comedy.

Alexander Kirk said "In this powerful drama of religious conflict and ethnic tension, Barabas is both hero and anti-hero, ambiguous, elusive and even sympathetic, despite his violence and depravity. The motives for his villainy are real and his fears and resentments have a troubling pertinence."

Cast: Emily Armstrong, Emily Burns, Geoff Dawes, Katherine Edmond, Phil Grummet, Rose Harvey, Brian Knott, Les Koopowitz, Simon Lancione, Roland Lever, Philip Lineton, Ben McCann, Zoe Muller, Nima Namjouyan, Emma O'Connell-Doherty, Kathryn Palasis, Yanni Pappas, Ashley Penny, Christine Runnel, April Slomiany, Camilla Wolfe-Barry, Danii Zappia and Amin Zargarian.

"Why, was there ever seen such villainy,

So neatly plotted, and so well performed."

TWO PERFORMANCES ONLY - THURS 16 & FRI 17 MARCH 2017, 7.30PM

TICKETS: All tickets $15

BOOKINGS: www.trybooking.com/OTVQ or cash on the door, subject to availability