Coming Soon
Event Calendar
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pygmalion
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (12A)
Roy Orbison and The Traveling Wilburys Experience
Back to Black (15)
The Lavender Hill Mob (U)
Event Search
- This event has passed.
Napoli, Brooklyn
1st May 2019 - 4th May 2019
Event Navigation
Original Theatre Company in association with Park Theatre presents the European Premiere of
Napoli, Brooklyn
By Meghan Kennedy
Directed by Lisa Blair
A captivating coming-of-age drama
Direct from Broadway and prior to London, don’t miss this exceptional true story in the tradition of Arthur Miller.
1960, Brooklyn, New York.
Nic and Luda Muscolino have raised three proud and passionate daughters. Each of them bonded by a fierce love for one another and harbouring a secret longing that could tear the family apart.
When an earth-shattering event rocks their Park Slope neighbourhood, life comes to a screeching halt and the Muscolino sisters are forced to confront their conflicting visions for the future in this gripping, provocative and poignant portrait of love in all its danger and beauty.
Originally commissioned by The Roundabout Theatre Company and currently nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award 2019. The Original Theatre Company (Monogamy, Birdsong, The Habit of Art) are proud to present the European premiere of Meghan Kennedy’s enthralling coming-of-age tale. Directed by Lisa Blair whose recent credits include the five- star revival of Jerusalem and featuring an all star cast.
Starring Georgia May Foote (Coronation Street, Grange Hill), Robert Cavanah (Shetland, Outlander and The Royal), Hannah Bristow (Jane Eyre, National Theatre), Mona Goodwin (Black Mirror), Stephen Hogan (The Tudors, Primeval), Laurie Ogden (To Kill a Mockingbird), Gloria Onitiri (Brighton Rock, Hadestown) and Madeleine Worrall (Peter Pan, Jane Eyre National Theatre).
‘Vivid, emotional and authentic’ Time Out New York
‘This is how you grow playwrights. Incredible’ New York Times
Napoli, Brooklyn opens in Malvern ahead of its London premiere at the Park Theatre.
Ages 12+
Related Events
Event Reviews
-
Penny
This left me speechless and unable to move from my seat at the end. Deserves to transfer into the West End. The cast were just wonderful. Very special piece of theatre. Great to see this in Malvern!
-
Marion
An excellent coming of age story. A strong cast all of whom gave excellent performances. The Christmas lunch scene in the second half was filled with palpable tension. Although Nic was a domineering bully, he was also portrayed as vulnerable. Superb entertainment.
-
Diane
Best theatre I have seen anywhere for a very long time. Fabulous script, all performances very strong. Great set & production - just go & see it!
Very moving, sometimes harrowing, but uplifting - I may well go again! Thank you -
Choice Radio Worcester
Hosting its European première, Malvern Theatres is presenting a short 4-day run of The Original Theatre Company's production of Megan Kennedy's Napoli, Brooklyn and you would be forgiven for thinking that you really should have paid more attention in those Italian classes in school as the mama of the piece starts talking in her native tongue!
For this is a family which had left their beloved Italy to set up a new life in a country with a different language, religion and culture. Whilst the mother holds onto her origins (and Madeleine Worrall does a great job at representing Luda, a mum who, with her Catholic icons and her day spent mainly cooking - and there is a lot of eating on stage! - is slightly at odds at 1960's New York life, where her abusive husband Nic (Robert Cavanah) has to remind her to "speak English" and her daughters Vita, Francesca and Tina (Georgia May Foote, Hannah Bristow and Mona Goodwin) are firmly now embracing the American Way whilst still controlled by the patriarch. The predominantly female cast is completed by Gloria Onitiri as a work colleague (who the patriarch cannot even look at presumably because she is black) and neighbour Connie (and love interest for Francesca) played by Laurie Ogden and her Irish butcher father, Albert (Stephen Hogan).
There is a slow build up to what will eventually - and dramatically - break apart this family unit as a real-life event, a deadly mid-air collision between a United Airlines and a TWA jet, rains down havoc on the Park Slope area of Brooklyn where they live. From that point on, the discord within the family moves up quite a few notches with the family and friends at each other's throats during a traditional Christmas Eve meal, a scene which will be familiar to most families at some point! And it is this confrontation which lifts the play and gets the audience totally engrossed.
And the character you feel most sorry for? La povera madre by a country mile...
-
Helen
Absolutely loved this. Poignant and emotionally charged, brilliantly acted, with just a touch of humour. A great night at the theatre.
-
Meg
Have just arrived home after the matinee showing. It was excellent - well worth seeing. I thought the acting was of a very high standard and all aspects of the presentation were very clear. I really enjoyed the production and would recommend it wholeheartedly.
-
Tracey
Fantastic theatre, acting was superb. Throughly enjoyed the play. Congratulations to all involved.
