Paul Capsis was excellent
here's my review for Sydney Arts Guide
http://www.sydneyartsguide.com/View-Review.asp?ReviewID=1085
Griffin has another roaring success on their hands. Sorry folks, but if you haven’t already booked , the entire season of this show sold out before opening night – you will have to try and get a ticket to the season when it transfers to Parramatta Riverside later .
This is the hotly anticipated return season of the 2010 smash hit with the extraordinary Paul Capsis. Developed with overwhelming love and affection, this is an atmospheric solo autobiographical performance by and about Capsis and his family, most especially his grandmother Angela and his Maltese heritage. The show is in a mix of English and Maltese, with Maltese songs and music. It is warm, witty and loving with gentle humour. Some of it is very poignant and sad. This is mostly Angela’s story as seen through Paul’s eyes but also how Paul strongly identified with her and we see the interlocking family relationships.
Angela emigrated here in 1948 with her five children, sailing on the ‘Strathnavar’. We learn about the culture shock and the problems Angela and other family members had with assimilation and integration. Things were so different here.
Three things were of crucial importance to Angela: poverty, the war and the move to Australia. Angela’s work at the post office and love of bingo playing are mentioned. We learn a bit about the history and beauty of Malta – the soaring churches, the sparkling beautiful harbour, the dome on the Mosta, which still has a German bomb in it , and the oldest man-made structure on Earth (on Gozo).
We also learn about the massive bombing and destruction that took place during World War 2 and almost completely flattened Malta.
Luminous Capsis is a pocket powerhouse dynamo and gives an amazing performance. You may have previously seen him in ‘The Rocky Horror Show’, ‘The Caucasian Chalk Circle’, ‘The Threepenny Opera’, amongst many productions he has been involved in.
There are vivid characterizations of his family and assorted neighbours and friends , with an incredible vocal range and changes of pitch, accents and distinguishing ‘tics’ (for example Aunty Doris with a cigarette in her mouth, Clarrie the bingo caller).
There is a hilarious section where Capsis depicts the family at mealtime jumping between portrayals of various family members. How does he do it?!
Various scenes (as captioned on the back wall) include ‘ Postcard from Malta II’ for example or ‘Nannu’ (about Capsis’ grandfather) or ‘Learning to work, learning to sing’ and we uncover further segments of Capsis’s life and family history.
The set on the tiny Griffin stage includes a large kitchen cupboard, that is at once solid and ordinary, yet is also ‘filled’ with mystery and suspense. The top of the cupboard has candles and other kitchen items used to symbolise the Island of Malta at one point. There is also the folding table and a fridge with a statue of the Madonna on top.
Projections are used of various family photos and assorted shots of Malta all linked to where the Capsis family used to live. We also learn how Angela had seven children, 18 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren and 7 great great grandchildren – an extraordinary family.
‘Some old, wrecked, precious things’ – treasured family items, are packed up in the giant folding table/case. Capsis ‘channels’ his grandmother in a red dress and black shoes.
With the show there is a massive sense of love, family, community and yet, at the same time, displacement. This was a very moving, heartwarming performance. At the end there was prolonged, rapturous applause.
Julian Meyrick’s production of Paul Capsis's ANGELA’S KITCHEN,(with a running time of 90 minutes without interval), is playing the Stables theatre, 10 Nimrod Street, Kings Cross until Saturday 9th June, 2012 and then goes on tour.
© Lynne Lancaster
19th May, 2012
Tags: Sydney Theatre Reviews- ANGELA’S KITCHEN, Paul Capsis, Julian Meyrick. Stables Theatre, Sydney Arts Guide, Lynne Lancaster.
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