In recent weeks there has been much speculation, conjecture, rumour and quite frankly... nonsense, written and spoken about the Manoel Theatre Management Board's decision to award the 2008/2009, 2009/2010 pantomime productions to Masquerade. As a member of the Manoel Theatre management board at the time, I feel the time is right to explain the situation.
Early in 2007, when the applications from local drama companies reached the Manoel Theatre Board, the board met to discuss these applications. During the course of the discussions they felt obliged to address the situation re the annual Christmas pantomime.
For the past few years it was felt that the standard had declined alarmingly. It is certainly true that the board had received several complaints, some feeling that the panto was no longer "family" entertainment, others claiming that the standard of the writing was very poor.
Some patrons actually walked out of some shows. The previous two pantos The Sleeping Beauty and Hercules were particularly singled out as being of a low standard. (Although the costumes for Hercules were, in fairness, absolutely brilliant,).
It was, therefore, unanimously decided to ask Masquerade, another of the applicants, to produce the 2007 pantomime. And since, at that time, Masquerade and the MADC were the only applicants the board felt capable of staging a panto, the decision was taken to alternate production of the Manoel's Christmas entertainment for a period, between Masquerade and the MADC. After this time a further call for applications would be made.
Masquerade and the MADC were informed of the board's decision and Masquerade signed a contract that bound them to produce the 2007/08 panto at the Manoel Theatre. At this point, as we understand it, the MADC upped the ante somewhat by high level lobbying the powers-that-be, with the intention of getting the Manoel Theatre Board's decision over-ruled.
After some toing and froing between all the parties concerned, Anthony Bezzina of Masquerade agreed to give up the right to produce the 2007/08 panto, in a gentleman's agreement with the MADC chairman Alan Montanaro, on the understanding that his company would produce it in 2008/09. Subsequently the MADC produced last year's panto, Pirates of the Mediterranean. This was, as most people seem to agree, an excellent show and a far better effort than some of their recent pantos.
However, when it came to deciding who would be responsible for the 2008/09 show, a further complication arose. The new chairman of the MTMB Peter Fenech, felt that the "gentleman's agreement" or memorandum of understanding between the board and the other two companies would not hold up in court.
And to further complicate matters, a third company FM Productions had entered the fray. So it was decided to settle the matter for at least three years by drawing lots between the three production companies, to decide who would stage the Manoel Theatre panto in 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11. Masquerade, on the other hand, felt that for the second time they had been deprived of their right to produce the Manoel Theatre panto, so they instituted a judicial protest against the Manoel Theatre for resorting to the drawing of lots.
In the event the MADC drew the right to stage the '08/09 panto, Masquerade the right to stage the '09/'10 show and FM Productions drew the right to produce the '10/11 pantomime.
However, another twist followed, when the MADC unexpectedly decided to forfeit their right to stage this year's show. They cited the rise in the Manoel Theatre's fee from €46,000 to €58,000, as the reason for withdrawing. They also claimed that they would have to put up their seat prices to offset this increase, which they were not prepared to do.
Masquerade, being the next out of the hat, were, therefore, asked to step in and produce the 2008/09 panto at the Manoel Theatre, which they agreed to do at the new cost of €58,000 and will, therefore, be responsible for putting on the Manoel Theatre's 2008/09 panto Jack and the Beanstalk. They have also guaranteed to keep seat prices at the level of 2007/08.
Those are the facts.
Early in 2007, when the applications from local drama companies reached the Manoel Theatre Board, the board met to discuss these applications. During the course of the discussions they felt obliged to address the situation re the annual Christmas pantomime.
For the past few years it was felt that the standard had declined alarmingly. It is certainly true that the board had received several complaints, some feeling that the panto was no longer "family" entertainment, others claiming that the standard of the writing was very poor.
Some patrons actually walked out of some shows. The previous two pantos The Sleeping Beauty and Hercules were particularly singled out as being of a low standard. (Although the costumes for Hercules were, in fairness, absolutely brilliant,).
It was, therefore, unanimously decided to ask Masquerade, another of the applicants, to produce the 2007 pantomime. And since, at that time, Masquerade and the MADC were the only applicants the board felt capable of staging a panto, the decision was taken to alternate production of the Manoel's Christmas entertainment for a period, between Masquerade and the MADC. After this time a further call for applications would be made.
Masquerade and the MADC were informed of the board's decision and Masquerade signed a contract that bound them to produce the 2007/08 panto at the Manoel Theatre. At this point, as we understand it, the MADC upped the ante somewhat by high level lobbying the powers-that-be, with the intention of getting the Manoel Theatre Board's decision over-ruled.
After some toing and froing between all the parties concerned, Anthony Bezzina of Masquerade agreed to give up the right to produce the 2007/08 panto, in a gentleman's agreement with the MADC chairman Alan Montanaro, on the understanding that his company would produce it in 2008/09. Subsequently the MADC produced last year's panto, Pirates of the Mediterranean. This was, as most people seem to agree, an excellent show and a far better effort than some of their recent pantos.
However, when it came to deciding who would be responsible for the 2008/09 show, a further complication arose. The new chairman of the MTMB Peter Fenech, felt that the "gentleman's agreement" or memorandum of understanding between the board and the other two companies would not hold up in court.
And to further complicate matters, a third company FM Productions had entered the fray. So it was decided to settle the matter for at least three years by drawing lots between the three production companies, to decide who would stage the Manoel Theatre panto in 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11. Masquerade, on the other hand, felt that for the second time they had been deprived of their right to produce the Manoel Theatre panto, so they instituted a judicial protest against the Manoel Theatre for resorting to the drawing of lots.
In the event the MADC drew the right to stage the '08/09 panto, Masquerade the right to stage the '09/'10 show and FM Productions drew the right to produce the '10/11 pantomime.
However, another twist followed, when the MADC unexpectedly decided to forfeit their right to stage this year's show. They cited the rise in the Manoel Theatre's fee from €46,000 to €58,000, as the reason for withdrawing. They also claimed that they would have to put up their seat prices to offset this increase, which they were not prepared to do.
Masquerade, being the next out of the hat, were, therefore, asked to step in and produce the 2008/09 panto at the Manoel Theatre, which they agreed to do at the new cost of €58,000 and will, therefore, be responsible for putting on the Manoel Theatre's 2008/09 panto Jack and the Beanstalk. They have also guaranteed to keep seat prices at the level of 2007/08.
Those are the facts.