Red Stitch is one of Melbourne’s leading theatre company’s and the fact I had not yet seen one of their shows is unacceptable. Well, I must say, the standard has now been set. Jurassica was my first taste of what sort of work this company can produce and it blew me away.
There was really no pre-conceived idea as to what I was going to see. All I knew was that it was about Italians in Australia. Perfect. I am of Italian descent and my grandparents and father migrated to Australia in the 1950s, so already I felt connected.
Well, connected is an understatement let me tell you. The opening monologue had me instantly captivated as lead actor Joe Petruzzi spoke in Italian, languishing over every word so that even those who didn’t understand it still could. I do speak and understand Italian so for me, it just added to the full and immersive experience.
At the heart of being a true Italian is undoubtedly family, and the exploration into this 21st century Italian family had me in fits of laughter because of how accurate the scenarios were. Humour aside, there were very important lessons to learn which, I believe, is where writer Dan Giovannoni truly allowed his work to shine.
The cast of six, including Jordan Fraser-Trumble, Olga Makeeva, Devon Lang Wilton, Caroline Lee, Edward Orton and aforementioned Joe Petruzzi, were outstanding as their stories weaved together from past to present, and vice versa, really showing the struggles any family would go through but also revealing the beauty of such a bond. Most of the actors had stolen moments of speaking Italian and for the most part it was good enough to pass off as authentic.
I don’t want to give too much away because it really is a theatre experience that is such a true depiction of what Italian migrants went through and how their families today have assimilated into the Australian culture. With direction by Bridget Balodis and assistance from Olivia Monticciolo, all I can say is that this world premiere play is worthy of audiences’ time and money.
If you have quite a close affiliation with the Italian culture, you are Italian, or even if you’re not, this show is an absolute must-see. It will leave you feeling warm inside and reflect on what truly matters in life.
Performances are on until November 7 but for more information visit http://redstitch.net/gallery/jurassica/
The reviewer attended the show on October 14.
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