The WARM Italian sunshine and the promise of floral scents mixing with the hint of romance arrive at the Talisman in a light and most enjoyable comedy.
Four very different women find themselves unexpected companions in renting a castle on the Italian coast all looking for an escape in one form or other whether that be from disappointingly stolid husbands or just the dreadful English climate.
Throw in cultural confusion, a spot of light feather-ruffling and the arrival of the husbands and the stage is set for the gentlest of comedies.
And the stage in this case is set rather well. Michael Seeley’s split level design offers multiple locations before blossoming in the second half as a wisteria-draped, sun-warmed terrace complete with a view across the water. This is a show as easy on the eye as any picture postcard from the Continent.
The four women are all very pleasingly played. Eleanor Lake as the forlornly out-of-her-depth Rose is watchable throughout but it’s Paige Phelps as the unremittingly optimistic and enthusiastic Lotty who drives the action, and in many ways this production, along from start to finish.
Elsewhere there are decent performances throughout with James McCabe’s relaxed and charming owner-cum-artist and Teresa Robertson’s deadpan Italian housekeeper particularly worthy of note.
Maurice Smith’s direction is sound if a little static at times and the show would certainly benefit from any uplift in pace and sharpness this week’s run can afford it.
Matthew Barber’s script does have a few gentle stabs at an underlying life-lesson to be drawn from the tale but in many ways this holiday is a break away from dogmatic and preachy drama to a place where being charmingly entertained is enough. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
Enchanted April runs until Saturday April 19. Visit talismantheatre.co.uk for more information.
