Review of ‘Filumena’: “Bland puttanesca”

The Richmond Theatre welcomes director Sean Mathias’s take on the Italian comedy classic, in a new production starring celebrity actors Felicity Kendall and Matthew Kelly. Guillermo Nazara will put analysis into the show, to let us know if this droll romance between a streetwalker and a wealthy tycoon is able to bring a whore lot of fun.

Some people love us for what we are. Some others, for what we’ve got. The matters of the heart are a business as tricky as their name is pompous. We never know for sure who may genuinely care for us, and who only care about what we can give them. Emotion erases reason. And we fall for someone, we rarely look up to see the real picture – until it’s too late…

Don’t worry – this is actually a romantic comedy. I just don’t like seeing couples living a happy life; it’s not my style. But yes, the old man is finally marrying that whore and her extended bastards. I know, I know – it sounds like bitter housewife gossip (that’s how I identify myself as now; though without the husband…). But the thing is that’s actually what’s happening here: the richest man in Naples is wedding her long-term prostitute. Isn’t it beautiful? Almost like a fairy tale – and adult one, that is… And the best part of it is that he only did it because he thought she’d be dead by the end of the day…

Let’s be fair – that’s a rather amusing premise for a farce. And, to be honest, its delivery is also quite acceptable. It’s a play that’s been done hundreds and hundreds of times (you’d better not double check my estimations…), and which has also been the subject for a 1950s Spanish-Argentine musical (now that would be interesting to see…). What’s new about this version, then? Well, I don’t work in customer service so I can’t be solving all your existential crap… Oh, wait – I’m a critic. Alright – I’ll behave (*smirk*).

Directed by Sean Mathias, this new adaptation of Eduardo De Filippo’s classic (versioned by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall) brings also together celebrity actors Felicity Kendall and Matthew Kelly in the lead roles. They hate each other. They adore each other. But where will such a volatile infatuation take them to? That’s for you to discover. What I can tell, though, is that their chemistry onstage is pretty much on top. They are far-gone, exaggerated, camp and simply out of this world – literally. And we can praise them for that (as well as the rest of the cast, in general) – as their energy, flair and naturalness keep the piece alive even at the moments when it goes completely dormant.

The problem with the play (because there is one) is that it doesn’t fulfill its marital duties as much as we may have expected. Starting with high stamina and rhythm through a rapid conflict that instantly engages the viewer, the writing gets slightly messier as the plot continues to unfold. There are bits that feel totally unnecessary, as they make little to no contribution to the character’s arc or the action – relying on not too elaborate jokes that create no other effect that a pointless halt in the pacing resulting in an occasionally boring outcome.

Consequently, the structure is somehow incohesive – with a time jump between the first and second act that looks too abrupt (at least, as for the way everything is wrapped up) in terms of the recount’s evolution. With an ambiguous conclusion, probably the strongest element in the piece, it’s a bit disappointing how some other core parts in the account have not been given the same robustness – as the buildup, though defined and justified, still misses a sense of robustness for the climax to properly work.

In any case, the production still flaunts several triumphant features – in some way, making up for a script that could benefit from a better dowry. As a result, Filumena brings a decent proposal to the Richmond stage, through solid performances, compelling visuals (credit to Morgan Large), as well as a fair amount of enjoyment and mildly thought-provoking content that will surely make you pop a question or two by the end. The comeback of a classic, there’s little now to do rather than appreciate then piece for what it is and move along with it. It’s not that enchanting to open yourselves to infatuation, but her assets will guarantee you don’t file for divorce in the middle of the performance – at least, not with the play!

Filumena plays at London’s Richmond Theatre until 23 November. Tickets are available on the following link.

By Guillermo Nazara