A FOOL IN LOVE
Falling in love is a no brainer.
From the deliciously wicked pen of Van Badham, who most recently had you in stitches with Banging Denmark, comes an uproarious night out at the theatre that brilliantly lampoons our contemporary obsession with wealth and status, whilst leaving enough time for a selfie session by the pool!
Featuring the comedic talents of Melissa Kahraman (Hubris & Humiliation), Contessa Treffone (On the Beach) and Megan Wilding (The Importance of Being Earnest), A Fool in Love is an adaptation of Spanish Golden Age playwright Lope de Vega’s classic comedy La dama boba, refreshed and ingeniously infused with a dose of twenty-first century oomph.
In the well-heeled seaside town of Illescas, the beautiful Octavio sisters – the smart and social climbing Vanessa (Kahraman) and the lovable and, perhaps, not-so-smart Phynayah (Treffone) – are desperate to save their family from financial ruin. In order to inherit her eccentric uncle’s fortune, Phynayah must get engaged before she turns 30. The catch? These days, suitors don’t just want beauty, they expect brains as well.
Equal parts delightful rom-com and razor-sharp spoof, this production will retain all the joy and revelry of a seventeenth century farce at the same time as putting contemporary gender and class politics under the microscope. Bold, bawdy and gut-bustingly funny, A Fool in Love is social satire at its very cheekiest.
CREATIVES
by Van Badham
After La dama boba by Lope de Vega
Director Kenneth Moraleda
Set & Costume Design Isabel Hudson
Lighting Design Benjamin Brockman
Sound Design Michael Toisuta
Cast
Arkia Ashraf, Alfie Gledhill, Melissa Kahraman, Johnny Nasser, Contessa Treffone, Aaron Tsindos, Megan Wilding
DATES
6 FEB - 14 MAR 2024
WHARF 1, SYDNEY THEATRE COMPANY
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★★★★ "A brilliant bash that will keep you laughing from beginning to end" Time Out
"Badham is not only inviting us to reflect on the economics of love but also gender and cultural politics." The Conversation
"Adapted from Spanish ‘Golden Age’ playwright Lope de Vega’s classic La dama boba, A Fool in Love brings all the joy and revelry of a seventeenth century farce, bolstered by a hearty dose of twenty-first century social satire." Australian Arts Review
"Badham spins a mix of barbed wire and fairy floss" Limelight