THE Pope’s 1965 visit to New York forms the background to John Guare’s 1971 play.
Set in the Queens apartment of Artie Shaughnessy (Stuart Hibbard), we find a zoo keeper and hopeless songsmith caught between his wife (Georgie Gulliford), of uncertain mental health (and named Bananas, in a typical example of the play’s humour) and his voracious lover Bunny (Holly Robertson, whose New York accent is near faultless), who wants to take Artie to see the Pope and have their plan to be rid of Bananas blessed in some way.
Young Ronnie Shaughnessy (Alistair Smyth, AWOL from the military and with plans to bomb the Pontiff), is added to the mix, along with producer Billy (Peter Trott), movie star Corrina (Lou Mannell)and three nuns (Clare Blackburn, full of fun, Mandy Watmouth, amiable and dignified, and Director Rick Barter - terrifying!), while the principals get to broaden their characterisations with addresses direct to the audience.
This frantic comedy almost overwhelms but has its reflective moments, particularly well brought to life by Gulliford and Hibbard.
HAM QUENTIN
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