Dream?
Dream? is a 1974 rock opera by David Agius, Joey Chircop, and Anton Grech. It is held as the first ever rock opera to be written and performed in Malta.
It was premiered at the Teatru Manoel in Valletta on 4, 5 & 6 October 1974.
The musical arrangements and orchestra conductor was Joseph Vella, the choreography was by Mary Rose Debono, while Mario Ascione was the stage director.
Plot
Attempting to bring to light a number of social problems facing contemporary youths, Dreams? neither condemns nor praises the various situations portrayed. The rock opera merely asks: "is all this really happening today?" leaving it for each individual to answer the question.
The story centers around a 25-year old youth called Dreamer who has been marooned for 20 years on a deserted island with an old sailor, Ben, who had also been marooned there some years earlier. Ben taught Dreamer all he knew before he died, leaving him on his own. Dreamer goes to sleep on Ben's grave and his dream begins. He dreams of going out into the world to find out for himself all that old Ben had told him. He first meets a group of rejectors who are leaving the world because of what's happening.
Act I
- Scene One: Dreamer Next To Ben's Grave
- Scene Two: Meeting With The Rejectors of The World
- Scene Three: Garden of Eden
Intermission
Act II
- Scene Four: In The Man-Made City
- Scene Five: Entering The Discotheque
- Scene Six: Meeting with Harold Fry
Intermission
Act III
- Scene Seven: Meeting The Arab, Jew, Catholic and Protestant
- Scene Eight: Meeting the Beggar (Ben)
- Scene Nine: Meeting The Demonstrators
- Scene Ten: Back On The Island
The End
Principal roles and original cast
- Dreamer: Enzo Gusman
- Pusher: Bayzo
- Ben: Renato Micallef
- Harold Fry: Ninu Bartolo
- Junkie: Natalie Micallef
Rejections and Demonstrators
Godwin Borg – Joseph Borg – Maria Chircop – Janet Chircop – Anthony Cassar – Marthese Cortis – Catherine Cortis – Peter Baldacchino – Tania D’Ugo – Vince Dalli – Josette Grech – Sylvio Mizzi – Janet Mifsud – Vince Mifsud – Doreen Scott – Ray Sultana – Rose Scicluna – Emm. Salfia – Bernardette Wismayer – Charles Zammit – Joe Vassallo – Peter Borg
Dancers
Mary Rose Debono – Dominic Poole – Etta Mizzi – Denis Bartolo – Marion Ebejer – Oscar Curmi – Charles Zammit – Loraun Gafa’ – Paul Mifsud – Joseph Borg – Anna Farrugia – Frank Camilleri – Celine Portelli
Orchestra
Led by Joseph Vella:
- Anton Grech – Lead Guitar
- Henry Spiteri – Bass Guitar
- Freddie Scicluna – Rhythm Guitar
- Joe Camilleri l-Peace – Drums
- Charles "City" Gatt – Drums
- Ray Agius – Organ & Piano
Crew
- Stage Manager – George Schiro
- Stage and Dress Design – Joe Micallef
- Sound System – Joe Debono
- Stage and Sound Effects – Tony Parnis
- Stage Make-Up – Mario Azzopardi and Charles Stroud
- Hairstyles (Protagonist) – Manuel (Village Gossip)
- Wigs and Hairstyes (Rejectors and Demonstrators) – Denis and George of Dragonara Saloon
- Promoters – Denis Bartolo, Joe Micallef and Carmel Galea
Manoel Theatre staff
Booking Clerk – Maria Bugeja Electrician – Vanni Laus Stage Carpenters – E.Dalli, F.Mifsud, and J.Azzopardi
Souvenir booklet
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