Elisabeth Marie
Rating: 4/5

A Special Day is a bittersweet human drama about a chance encounter between two neighbours in Rome during a time of political unrest.

Inspired by Italian film Una Giornata Particolare, actors Ana Graham and Antonio Vega use a few props, a piece of chalk,and the power of storytelling to create a compelling tale that explores the themes of gender roles, fascism, and the persecution of homosexuals under the Mussolini regime.

On the day Hitler visited Mussolini in Rome, 1938, Antonietta, a naïve, sentimental and overworked homemaker, stays home doing her usual domestic tasks, while her fascist husband and their six children take to the streets to follow a parade.

Antonietta’s pet bird escapes her apartment and flies to a windowsill in the complex next door. Here she meets a charming man named Gabriele, who is amused by the situation and takes an immediate liking to Antonietta.

Antonietta soon learns that Gabriele is an anti-fascist, which she finds despicable. Gabriele eventually opens up, confessing he was fired from his job because he is a homosexual. Antonietta confides in him her troubles with her arrogant and unfaithful husband. Throughout their interaction and conversation, each realise that the other is oppressed by social and governmental conditioning, and they take comfort in an intimate relationship.

The connection between Ana and Antonio’s characters felt genuine with their raw performance and honest portrayal. They built the world around them by drawing on the black walls with chalk, taking the simplistic setting and giving it life and movement.

Sound cues helpe engage the audience in the play and bring them into 1938 Rome, but these were kept to a minimal in order to allow the development of the characters primarily through dialogue. 

This theatre gem offers an hour of respite from the hustle and bustle of modern life, and educates the audience on a different time, where people suffered different issues. Allow this eye-opening performance to intrigue and impress you, as you take the time to appreciate the simple, yet beautiful performance of A Special Day.

Details
Location: Black Box Theatre – Adelaide Botanic Garden
Dates: 26/02/2020 – 15/03/2020
Ticket Price: 
Full Price – $28.00ea
Concession – $23.00ea
BankSA Cardholder – $21.75ea
Ticket Purchase: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/a-special-day-af2020