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CALGARY - John Patrick Shanley's Italian American Reconciliation is an amiable little comedy set in New York's Little Italy.
It premiered the same year Shanley's Moonstruck hit movie theatres and both stories succeed on their ethnic charm and lovable stereotypes.
The Rogues Theatre production, under the direction of Joe-Norman Shaw currently running in the Pumphouse's Joyce Doolittle Theatre, overflows with lusty humour and some gentle insights into the pitfalls of relationships.
Aldo Scalicki (Dimitri Arvanitis) wants to help his best friend Huey (Bernard Starlight) get over Huey's bitter divorce from Janice (Allison Cullen) so Huey can pursue a relationship with the sweet Teresa (Aislin Winsor).
As the play's narrator, Aldo is a bombastic buffoon and Arvanitis devours the role with gusto.
The play demands this kind of operatic approach from Aldo, who gets to talk directly to the audience taking them into his confidence all the time sharing his dubious thoughts on love, life, women and his mother.
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Huey couldn't be more different. He's humble, quiet and introspective.
Starlight's performance is nothing short of amazing.
He is so immersed in his character even his finger tips seem to be bemoaning the fact his marriage robbed him of his masculinity.
Cullen does much the same when we finally meet Janice later in the play. Her entire body responds to what Arvanitis is saying, speaking volumes before she actually speaks.
Brad Leavitt's cozy set makes it obvious that what happens in Janice's garden is a gentle spoof on Romeo and Juliet.
The confident, insightful acting in Shaw's production makes Italian American Reconciliation soar as much as the opera arias that introduce each scene.