Four Flat Whites in Italy at Genesian Theatre, 14 October 2023

Reviewed by Sumaya Sultana

The Genesian Theatre has a cosy, well-lit foyer, filled with eager patrons. On the opening night of Roger Hall’s Four Flat Whites in Italy, we were kindly greeted with appetisers and drinks (only water for me!). We waited in anticipation for director Tui Clark’s production of the social comedy.

The play centres around four tourists: Adrian (David Stewart-Hunter), Alison (Penny Church), Harry (Christopher Pali) and Judy (Karen Pattinson), as they venture across Italy and get to know each other a bit more. Couple Adrian and Alison and their issues with money, grief and intimacy serve as an undercurrent throughout the play, exacerbated by Adrian’s interactions with Harry’s young, ‘not-a-trophy’ wife Judy. Thankfully, everything is resolved by the end of the play, but not without the help of Count Marco (Imran Khaliqi) and Contessa Nicola (Kimberlea Smith), whose actors also play an ensemble of other supporting characters. The play seems to delve into the different ways life can develop post-retirement, the intersection of first-world problems with more nuanced issues within our lives and the age-old phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover.”

I felt that the actors were the highlight of the show; they did their job well and I truly enjoyed the play because of their skill. Stewart-Hunter’s performance of protagonist Adrian’s narration is comedic but also consistently adds purpose – it never feels out of place because of his matter-of-fact tone and perfect timing. Both Church and Pattinson play their characters convincingly well. I felt sympathy for Alison’s struggles but also irritated by her demeanour at some points and simultaneously viewed Judy as a grey but also humane individual, both characterisations only facilitated by their talented actresses. Pali plays his comedic relief purposefully and his role as a Liberal stereotype is well done. Both Khaliqi and Smith serve as charming characters who add plenty to the play and improve the Italian atmosphere, and I was shocked to learn that this was Khaliqi’s debut after his impressive performance on stage.

The costuming, designed by Helen Kohlhagen, considerably added to the value of the production, especially in its use as a tool to demarcate between Alison and Judy, and its posh characterisation of Harry against Adrian’s role as the stereotypical tourist. Alongside this, Cian Byrne’s lighting design felt unique in its distinct contribution to the atmosphere. The characters went from spotlight to being basked in the warm Italian sun and his work consistently served meaning throughout the play. The production team’s efforts were significant in contributing to the touristy mood, while also catering to the more serious parts of the performance when necessary.

Tui Clark’s interpretation of the play felt faithful and the pacing in Act I was enjoyable and I never felt bored as the characters explored Venice. Transitions throughout the play were consistently smooth and didn’t feel uncomfortable. However, I thought that the blocking could have been improved as while there was a consistent use of set components, at some points blocking looked awkward and cumbersome. I did also think that Hall’s script didn’t do the nuanced characters of Alison and Judy justice – their traumas were jarringly thrown in which only sometimes worked but most of the time broke the immersion quite a bit. However I felt both Clark and Hall’s work is perfect in regards to comedy as I found myself constantly laughing throughout the play, accompanied by the rest of the audience.

Genesian Theatre’s production of Roger Hall’s Four Flat Whites in Italy, skillfully directed by Tui Clark, delivers an entertaining blend of comedy and introspection through a talented cast and thoughtful production elements. While facing some script challenges in nuanced character development, the play succeeds in eliciting laughter and engaging the audience in the delightful, sun-soaked journey of its four quirky tourists through Italy. If you’re looking for a nice night out with lots of laughter and a lovely ambience, I would definitely recommend booking tickets here.