A simpatico look at an old story

Emma
Written by Graham Pitts
Directed by Rosalba Clemente
Belvoir Street Theatre
Until December 23
Reviewed by Pip Hinman For those of us with a soft spot for things Italian, Emma is an entertaining and humorous look at one family's adaptation into a new, and sometimes hostile, country. From the Abruzzi region, in central Italy, come Emma and her family, famed for none other than their tomato and eggplant sugo. They, like everyone else in their district, lead hard lives — particularly the womenfolk who take on the heavy work when their men leave for the war. So, when the chance comes to move to the land where "women don't have to life a finger" they jump at it. So unfolds the true story of how Emma meets Peter Ciccotosto (Nicholas Papademetriou), and how they cope with the new ways — and the old family traditions. It's a common tale, and one which many immigrant families will relate to. Eva Di Cesare plays the strong, determined Emma who, not only to cope with an abusive and crabby step-mother Concetta (Antonietta Morgillo), — "what will you do for a face when the monkey wants its bum back?" — but also has to keep hearth and soul together when her husband gambles away all their savings. As for the Scotscese — the Scottish woman he likes to flirt with — that's a much easier battle. Writer Graham Pitt (Death at Balibo) says he had to leave his politics behind to get into "matters of substance". Maybe this explains the something that Emma lacks in its narrow focus on the family. I suspect Emma will have greater appeal for an older generation as it's a story that has, and can be, told many times over. The Italian Women's Choir, which includes women of many ages and backgrounds, adds a lot to the performance. They and the smells of the sugo made this reviewer hungry for a good bowl of pasta. Simpatico!