Edinburgh Fringe 2024
The Italians in England by Action Theatre
Action Theatre (Italy)
Genre: Historical, Theatre
Venue: the Spaceuk
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
The year is 1572. Shakespeare is yet to emerge, but Commedia dell’Arte is wowing Europe with its masks, comedy, wild plots, improvisation, and women on stage! Queen Elizabeth I demands a performance at her court. Action Theatre (Italy) presents Flaminio Scala’s Il Vecchio Geloso (The Jealous Old Man), featuring leather half-masks, stunning costumes, and live music. The story includes a lunch disrupted by wild boar, where servants and masters seek love, and emotions clash at the Doctor’s house near Venice. The vibrant performance leaves the Queen and her court mesmerized by the Italian players’ artistry and wit.
Review
Action Theatre (Italy) present “The Italians in England,” a parody-filled theatrical performance that takes the audience on a mini historical trip through the escapades of Italian players in the English court in 1572. The play begins and ends in the court of Queen Elizabeth I, framing the main story which centers on the actors performing “The Jealous Old Man.” With a blend of vibrant set pieces, strong vocal performances, and an Anglo/Italo fusion in theatre, movement, clowning, physical, as well as verbal, knockabout and song, the show succeeding in bringing to life those raucous plays that shook up the gentler sensitibilities of the time.
The Italians in England is an enjoyable romp through one particular bawdy play, introducing us to the Italian players who performed across Europe, entertaining royalty and the elite with their theatrical masks and lively antics. The production is filled with full-bodied vocal delivery and lively verbal interplay, especially in scenes depicting Italy’s best troupe performing “The Jealous Old Man” at Queen Elizabeth I’s birthday party. The actors inhabit their characters well, showcasing a blend of humor and historical references that resonate well with the audience. There is an infectious full-on commitment from a very together troupe.
The show shines in many areas. The cast’s chemistry is palpable, and their vocal performances carry the mood and the narrative, bringing an impresive vitality to the production. The set pieces are well and clearly defined, creating a visually engaging experience that enhances the storytelling. Harmonious singing, good variation in pace also add depth to the performance. The larger-than-life acting, costumes, and physicality lift the characters off the pages of history, creating a lively and sometimes funny-rude comedy that keeps the audience engaged with the emerging story. The production is a little redolent of reminiscent of television-based interpretations of that milieu such as “Blackadder” and “Horrible Histories,” adding a layer of familiarity and humor that appeals to a broad audience. It doesn’t feel borrowed but there is overlap.
There are areas where the production could improve over its run. Some inconsistencies need ironing out, particularly in the execution of comedy slaps, which at times were set too silent or a bit sloppy. Additionally, there needs to be a bit more consistency between character acting and caricature. While the physicality and clownish elements are well-executed, some characters lacked consistent physical clarity, which could be tightened to enhance the consistency of the production from a physical theatre point of view. The pacing also occasionally lagged a little between scene transitions. Sometimes it was full pelt and then faded a little, as if it had run our of steam, It didn’t last long but needs finessing,
Overall, “The Italians in England” by Action Theatre Italy is a thoroughly entertaining story-show that captures and holds its audience with its lively performances and skilled combination of pantomime set pieces, clownish comedy and fast pascd dialogue and narrative. The well-set contrast between the loud, domineering Doctor and the quieter, sycophantic Pantalone adds texture to the character dynamics. There is a lot of fine character comedy work in this show. Despite minor inconsistencies, the production offers an impressive, well integrated theatre experience that is perfect for a pre-lunch performance . With some refinements in pacing and physical clarity, Action Theatre Italy’s production has the potential to be even righter and more consistent. As it is, it is still well worth seeing and is very good indeed.
