Venice! Rome! Italy! With a copy of Lonely Planet in one hand, recently retired librarians Adrian and Alison feel prepared to face the excitement of Italy in their longed for trip. Travelling with your nearest and dearest is difficult enough but with a couple who have only just moved in next door that puts a whole other complexion on it.
FOUR FLAT WHITES IN ITALY is a play by Kiwi playwright Roger Hall who has been described as New Zealand’s David Williamson. This is a very entertaining play as we see the two couples enjoying their many sight seeing adventures in one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
Inevitably, there are tensions and bickering between the two couples who know next to nothing about each other. There are disputes over money at restaurants, fighting over who has the first shower when in hotels with shared facilities, and much more, and yet the two couples manage to still be on good terms at the end of their trip.
Hall’s four principal characters are well drawn. Couple one, for what of a different phrase, are Adrian and Alison, both retired librarians.
Adrian is a phlegmatic, very articulate character. He also has the very important role of being the show’s narrator. David Stewart-Hunter gives a very fine performance in the role, guiding the audience as they go through their ‘retirees trip of a lifetime’.
Penny Church is very good as his devoted, though rather conservative wife Alison. Her character is a bit of a pain. She is something of a walking guide book, very art and history savvy, and the other couple, Harry and Judy, find her more than a little disconcerting and much more like a teacher than a librarian. Is Church’s frizzy hairdo part of her character?
Through the play the couple struggle with a tragic event which took place years ago. They do find some peace by the journey’s end.
Christopher Pali is excellent as the very blokey, down to earth Harry who is always boasting about the great sex life he has with his younger, very sensual and flirtatious wife, Judy.
Karen Pattinson has her vivacious, at times provocative character down to a tee, and in one scene comes on stage in a swimming costume, in a way parading herself in front of Adrian. There is a bit of sexual byplay between them, more playful than anything.
There are a veritable host of other incidental characters comprising some of the characters that the two couples meet in their travels. The playwright has cleverly incorporated it so that just two actors play all the parts.
The two actors, Imran Khalio, in his stage debut, and Kimberlea Smith, a frequent, accomplished performer in community theatre circles, perform their roles with a great energy and humour. They are spritely in the way that they come in and off the stage, in their various guises. Sometimes they make their stage entrances and exits from the aisles which is always fun to watch.
Imran Khaliqi played a gladiator (very funny), waiter, beggar and a Count.
Kimberlea Smith impressed as a Bed and Breakfast owner, a shopkeeper and a Contessa.
Tui Clark’s direction kept the action moving at a good pace. Clark was also responsible for the set design which mainly comprised different props which were brought in and off the stage by stage hands. A stained glass featured at the back wall of the stage. There were pillars at either side of the stage. Gregory George contributed the scenic art with Helen Kohlhagen the costume design, veteran sound and lighting designer Michael Schell contributing the sound design, Cian Byrne a very effective lighting design and Ali Bendall the choreography.
This was a very warm hearted production with the time passing sadly too quickly.
The Genesian Theatre Company is still performing at its lovely venue, a refurbished old church, where it has been for the last 69 years. This quaint theatre continues to produce quality, engaging theatre. The Company will move to its new purpose built theatre in Rozelle in the latter part of next year.
Roger Hall’s FOUR FLAT WHITES IN ITALY is playing at the Genesian Theatre, 420 Kent Street, Sydney City until the 4th November 2023.
https://www.genesiantheatre.com.au/
Production photography by Luke Holland and LSH Media