THE JEW OF MALTA Comes To Teatru Manoel Next Month

THE JEW OF MALTA, a show by Christopher Marlowe, comes to Teatru Manoe, running from Oct. 5 to Oct. 14.

We meet Machiavel, the amoral philosopher who believed that the end always justifies the means.

Then there is the governor of Malta who, forced to pay a tribute to the Turkish Sultan Calymuth in order to stave of war, decides that the easiest way to do this is to take it off the Jewish community based in Malta. One particular fellow is silly enough to protest and immediately sees all his goods and wealth (worth more than all of Malta's GDP) seized along with his house. Barabbas, for that is his name, retaliates by tricking the Governor's son and his friend into fighting over the affections of his daughter, Abigail. When they both die in a duel, Barabbas becomes further incensed when Abigail, horrified at what her father has done, runs away to become a Christian nun. In retribution, Barabas then goes on to poison her along with the whole of the nunnery, strangles an old friar who tries to make him repent for his sins and then frames another friar for the first friar's murder. Get the picture?

It is a difficult play which refuses definition: at turns political, satirical, farcical and even tragic.

It brings together characters of the three major monotheistic faiths, and roundly condemns all three. It is, in short,and typically of Marlowe, a revolutionary play which stings and hurts even as it entertains.

For tickets and more information, please visit https://www.teatrumanoel.com.mt/default.asp?m=shows&id=753