Adelaide Reviews

It is apposite that in times when Australia and many other nations are considering their responses to immigration and all its implications, that a play which looks these issues in the face should grace our stages. With humour, empathy and depth, this play presents issues of culture clash, racism and integration of differing cultures, values, and traditions, each with their own long-standing importance and relevance, through the eyes and developing mind of 17 year old Josie Alibrandi played by Chanella Macri.

She is an Aussie-born Italian girl at a catholic school in Sydney, grappling with her own hopes and aspirations of emancipation, whilst belonging to both worlds feeling acceptance from neither, and trying to balance and accept all sorts of differences. The father she has never met (Chris Asimos) turns up, and further complicates the relationships between Josie, her mother (Lucia Mastrantone) and her nonna (Jennifer Vuletic), as old secrets emerge, and relationships have to re-negotiate.

Meanwhile Josie is supported by her friends in school – Ivy, rich and privileged (also played by Mastrantone), and John Barton, similarly rich and privileged, on whom Josie has a bit of a crush – both played by Ashton Malcolm. She is also chased, with less than chaste ambitions, by local mechanic, Jacob (Riley Warner). John has his own secret struggles with expectations and finding his way, which lead to his tragic suicide which further upsets the mix.

The Director, Stephen Nicolazzo has come to this play with lived experience of having to understand the complexities of inter-cultural adaptation, seeking emancipation, and finding one’s way in the morass that results. He is self-confessed as having been “afraid to be a wog”, and being strongly drawn to this play. He is to be commended for some courageous casting decisions, which may or may not have served him in the long run. And any confusion these decisions may have generated in the audiences about the apparent authenticity of some characters, in no way detracts from the excellent acting that was demonstrated by them all. But if his intention was to make or to emphasise a philosophical or political point, I personally believe that point was lost.

The fact remains that this complex and challenging play is right for its time, and is very well presented, with some wonderful moments, such as the beautiful singing by the nonna of the lament after John’s funeral, and her poignant moment alone with her memories as she stirs the huge pot of tomatoes. It is about emancipation, discovery, respect, acceptance and other important things for our multicultural society, and it should be viewed by everyone!