Hunters Hill Theatre performed the world premiere of award winning Australian playwright Melvyn Morrow’s latest play, Pope2Pope, on Friday 18 August 2023. It was a play with religious themes that treads the fine line between comedy and some difficult truths. The director Elaine Hudson and the company did so with finesse and steady balance, cleverly staying on this line.
Pope2Pope, as the name suggests, was set inside the Mother of the Church Monastery, in the Vatican Gardens. The set design was simple but effective, with a traditional large red sofa on a red luxurious carpet taking centre stage. This repetition of colour spoke to me about power play, whilst in contrast on the right of the stage there was the Vatican’s gardens, a calm green scene filled with grass, herb pots and vine walls.
This is the closest we shall ever get to being a fly on the wall overhearing the conversation between two popes – one current, one pope emeritus (a pope which has been retired) inside the Vatican. And it is a conversation the audience wanted to follow, which in time revealed the underbelly of the Vatican and the papacy and other surprising secrets.
Graham Egan, as Pope Emeritus John XXIV portrayed his character’s personality perfectly. He was visually upbeat and appeared purposefully naturally loose with his movements and speech. In opposition to this character was Pope Pius XIII, played by Christopher Brown. He presented his character well, often seated ramrod straight backed on the red sofa and cut a serious and commanding presence. Sharron Olivier played Sister Angelica and a special mention must be made to her authentic sounding Italian accent as well as some great facial expressions which conveyed her character’s innermost thoughts.
Pope2Pope also gifts the audience with a brief history lesson involving some apparitions from the past with interesting stories, their costumes adding to their authenticity. I was impressed with Anthony Hunt’s performance of a certain character from the country. In the retelling of his story, Anthony added some real heart to the play.
Throughout the performance, the flow of conversation between the characters and aptly timed body language spoke to the audience clearly. At times, I found myself nodding along and relating to the cultural symbolism portrayed and at other times I was laughing at it.
Just before you enter the theatre, there was a table with a newspaper front page, some solid hardcover books about the popes and some religious items on it. When I saw the table walking in, it served to pique my interest in the upcoming play.
When I exited the theatre doors, I paused there to read the article from The Daily Telegraph dated February 2013. The headline read, “FIRST PONTIFF TO RESIGN IN 600 YEARS. POPE QUITS”. A real piece of history to supplement this well-rounded play.
Pope2Pope is performing at the Hunter’s Hill Theatre at Club Ryde, 728 Victoria Road, Ryde between the 18th August and the 3rd September 2023.
This review also appears on It’s On The House.
