Let’s start by saying sorry to the Victorian town of Sorrento. Australian family reunions don’t always go like this.
We loved the advance literary reference – “when you tell your secrets to the sea, the tide will bring them to shore” – but if your think this prefaces a romantic tale with a happy ending, you’re out of luck.
Hotel Sorrento by Hannie Rayson, directed by Susan O’Toole-Cridland, presents a sad, but very moving drama, involving three sisters – Pippa (Gemma Keliher), Hilary (Alison Telfer McDonald) and Meg (Izabela Wasilewska) – and their unresolved family secrets.
The acting, along with the sound effects, was very realistic and convincing in the intimate Pluto Theatre space – designed for an audience of 44 – the audience effectively sitting above and alongside the stage.
This play calls for real acting talent and that’s what the audience got from all the cast, but with even greater gusto and guts from Izabella Wasilewska, playing the London-based Booker-nominated novelist Meg, who dared to fictionalise disturbing family secrets.
John Stibbard was at home playing Wal – shall we call him an innocent intruder? – the very British partner to Meg.
Some less than subtle references from the play to stir the conscience of all writers: “loyalty versus truth”.
Make sure you go and see for yourself as Hotel Sorrento continues at Ad Astra’s Pluto theatre until March 14.
Visit adastracreativity.com/productions/hotel-sorrento for more.
