Set in the balmy heat of Naples, Felicity Kendal as the titular character, Filumena, and Matthew Kelly as Domenico bring to the Richmond theatre a romantic comedy which does not fail to amuse.
The set is meticulously designed, from the chandelier which hangs from the centre of the ceiling fresco to the statue of the Madonna who with her stone gaze coolly watches over all that happens in the room.
As opposed to being more focused on action, the play is instead driven by the lengthy, fiery dialogue, which verges on alternating monologues, through which the characters come alive.
Even before the lights are down, the curtains are already up – and while they settle into their seats the audience get a glimpse of flittering activity on stage, building our expectations for when the lights are dimmed and Felicity Kendal enters the stage, with every bit of Filumena’s wit and glee at the trick she has played on her newly-wed husband.
The play starts directly after Filumena pretending to be on her deathbed so that Domenico would marry her, thinking that she would die within no time, and that he would shortly be free to pursue his coquettish 22-year-old lover, Diana, played by Jodie Steele.
On the contrary.
It seems that no sooner have the priest and doctor left than Filumena delightedly jumps out of bed in rude health, congratulating herself on the successful trick she has played.
On the other hand, Domenico paces the stage furiously, letting loose a verbal barrage against Filumena, knowing that this means that he cannot marry Diana.
So the drama only intensifies when who should come knocking, but Diana herself!
The first act has plenty of charm, with the camaraderie between Kendal and Legrand in particular proving to be heart-warming – seeing how these two women have formed their long friendship through trust and respect and understanding of each other’s hardships.
Each woman expresses the pains of their past in their respective monologues, which starkly contrasts to both Domenico and Alfredo (the butler)’s experiences and reactions.
Watching the play, we see the contrast between Domenico’s misty-eyed memories of enjoying his horse races and women, to Felicity Kendal’s emotional delivery of a monologue about her own past.
Every other character present complements her moving speech by their reactions, in keeping with the respective characters they play.
But the play, far from over, has so much more to give.
Because it is soon to take a surprising turn when it turns out that Filumena has a secret, one that changes everything.
This classic comedy play was written in 1946 by Eduardo de Filippo, a playwright, poet and an actor himself.
Here an English version by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall is used, a pair who have collaborated frequently to create over 250 works.
‘Filumena’ has been on tour since October; having started in Windsor, it is now showing at the Richmond Theatre for only a couple more days.
See ‘Filumena’ for yourself at the Richmond Theatre from £15 – last showing 23rd November.
