Stella u Leone

More than just a musical with beautiful melodies, this production is rooted in colourful incidents and events from the past. Through it, audiences gain a deeper understanding of the mindset, customs, and upbringing of a bygone rural era. It also offers a fascinating glimpse into the nicknames and dialectal expressions that were characteristic of the time. Mary Meylak skillfully portrays the love story that blossoms between the two protagonists, Leone and Stella. Leone is a handsome young man from the Mandraġġ and a supporter of the Lion faction, while Stella is a spirited young woman from the area behind St Francis Church and aligned with the Stella faction. Naturally, their romance stirs up storms and upheavals within their families, among friends, and throughout the neighbourhood. Even the Archpriest finds himself caught in the middle, as he is connected to both sides. Yet despite all the obstacles and challenges they face, the young couple remains steadfast, proving that love always triumphs in the end. Their story culminates in marriage at the small but dearly beloved Shrine of Ta’ Pinu, where the Virgin Mary appeared to Karmni Grima in the village of Għarb. The Gozitan poetess Mary Meylak wrote this social comedy, Stella u Leone, to commemorate the elevation of St George’s Church to the dignity of a Minor Basilica by Pope Pius XII on 6 September 1958. The production was first staged by the Gozitan theatre company De Soldanis at the Astra Theatre on 15 April 1968. It was later adapted into a musical with lyrics by Joe W. Psaila and music by Mro Antoine Mercieca, and was performed for a second time by the Gozo Creative Theatre Club on Friday, 8 June 2012. As 2026 marks the 120th anniversary of the birth and the 50th anniversary of the death of Mary Meylak, this beloved musical will be staged for the third time. Everyone is warmly invited to attend.