Filumena by Eduardo de Filippo. English version by Keith Waterhouse & Willis Hall. Richmond Theatre, The Green, Richmond until 23 November 2024 and touring.

3☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.

“Efficiently performed and handsomely stage… but plodded along.”

Efficiently performed and handsomely staged the  problem with director  Sean Mathias' production is that it is more Brighton than Naples. Filumena is the mistress of Domenico, a man with a wandering eye, and has been for some 30 odd years. On her deathbed she gets him to agree to marry her but once the knot is tied she makes a miraculous recovery and he is confronted with her demand that he recognise her three sons, about whom he knew nothing, one of whom she says is his. The play was a massive hit when first staged here in 1977 with Joan Plowright at Filumena and Frank Finlay as Domenico in this version of the 1946 play which is regarded as one of de Filippo's finest.

If you can believe Felicity Kendall in a black wig is a Neapolitan let alone a Neapolitan with a past then you should have no problem with the evening but it does rather beggar belief. She is a fine actress - her timing is impeccable –but she is quintessentially English. As for Matthew Kelly, while suitably pompous as Domenico, he is equally implausible as a Bay of Naples rake and both – they are in their seventies – are just a shade too old, although Kendall looks a good twenty years younger than she really is if not more. They spar off one another well – they were together recently in a successful revival of Noises Off – but somehow things persist in being lacking in the necessary zest as Domenico keeps getting routed and Filumena has to devise yet another way to make him make her sons his sons and keep him from divorcing her and marrying his latest mistress who is waiting in the wings. They have, after all, been happily unmarried for a long time. The result is a souffle that has just about risen – edible but lacking in something.

Cast

Felicity Kendall – Filumena.

Matthew Kelly – Domenico.

George Banks – Michele.

Gavin Fowler – Umberto.

Jamie Hogarth -Alfredo.

Julie Legrand – Rosalie.

Ben Nealon – Nocella.

Lee Peck – Waiter.

Jodie Steel – Diana.

Sarah Twomey – Lucia.

Fabrizio Santino – Riccardo.

Hilary Tones – Teresina.

Creatives

Director – Sean Matthias.

Set & Costume Designer – Morgan Large.

Lighting Designer – Nick Richings.

Movement Director – Lisa Connell.

Sound Designer – Dan Samson.