Steven Hopley and Alexander Gibbs met performing in youth theatre and have spent the two decades since refashioning an ancient comedic art form into a new play they call ‘The Italian Comedy’ starring Campsie actor Emilia Stubbs Grigoriou.
It’s an all-guns-blazing comedy about a Venice fashion store owner who hides a political dissident as a mannequin, taking its inspiration from the Renaissance art form commedia dell’arte, a heavily-improvised form of comic street theatre sometimes referred to as Italian Comedy.
“We borrow some of the style and stock characters from commedia,” said Hopley, who will also direct the piece, “but it was also an opportunity for us to work in traditions from English comedy and French farce and of course, The Marx Brothers of whom we’re both massive fans.” Emilia, who performs as mannequin Messia, said the biggest challenge was to stop from laughing out loud at the hilarious characters when she was supposed to be like a statue.
“The audience will be thoroughly entertained too,” she said.
“This show blends the old and new styles; they just work so well together so be prepared for a great night out with loads of laughs.”
Catch ‘The Italian Comedy’ at the Meraki Arts Bar on Oxford Street from October 11-21, with tickets ($20-$35) available from merakisydney.com.
Hilarious tale giving nod to ‘old comedy’
TWO playwrights are on a mission to bring old comedy back to the stage.
