La famiglia è tutto: Family is everything.
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
It’s a typical, traditional 1959 weekend in Naples, Italy. On Saturday, all the activity is in the kitchen as food is prepared for the next day. On Sunday, the extended family gathers to eat dinner. On Monday, the family tries to make right the issues that occurred at Sunday dinner.
Eduardo De Filippo wrote the play Saturday, Sunday, Monday in post-war Italy. Not only was it set in 1959, but De Filippo wrote the play and it premiered all in that same year. So this story feels very authentic, and in the program Antoni Cimolino, who adapted and directed this play, tells us that De Filippo’s own marriage was falling apart at that time.
Cimolino is obviously a fan of De Fillippo – in 2018 he directed Napoli Milionaria! and Grand Magic in 2023. Now Saturday, Sunday, Monday is wrapping up Cimolino’s time as Artistic Director of Stratford Festival.
The play opens to a big Italian kitchen: the attention to detail is amazing. A pot is simmering on the stove, with steam rising in the air. There is even a whiff of Italian cooking.
It takes much of the first act to introduce the characters and establish all the relationships. In total, there are 17 actors playing the roles: no actors playing multi-roles here, each character is quite individual.
There is a large extended family, plus visitors: their neighbours (an accountant and his wife), and a maid with her unhappy brother, a tailor, and a doctor.
The family is led by Rosa, played perfectly by Rose Napoli. She takes the preparation of Sunday dinner quite seriously, and has control of the kitchen. Her husband is Peppino, with Graham Abbey in the role. He is obviously angry and disgruntled in the first act, and we don’t know why. Rod Beattie provides comic relief as Rosa’s father, Antonio. He may be heading into his dotage, yet no one is going to contradict him.
In the first act we meet Rosa and Peppino’s offspring: Sons Roberto (Jakob Ehman) and Rocco (Emilio Vieira) and daughter Giuianella (Katarina Fiallos).
When Sunday dinner (the ragu which was prepared all day Saturday) is served in Act II there are more family members around the table: Peppino’s brother (Geraint Wyn Davies) and his nephew Attilio(Josue Laboucane), and his mother Aunt Meme (Seana McKenna). Wyn Davies and Laboucane add to the comedy with their love of theatre and some thespian hijinks. McKenna, a veteran of the Stratford Festival, plays a strong woman which adds balance to the story. Roberto’s wife (Celia Aloma) and Giulianella’s on-again, off-again fiancé (Maher Sinno) are there.
There is also comedy created by the neighbours invited for dinner. While Elena (Michelle Giroux) is very composed, her husband, Luigi, the accountant (Gordon S. Miller) has none of her composure. He is over-the-top enthusiastic and excitable, which is funny, until the big moment happens. (That’s all I’m going to say; no spoilers here.)
There are also some non-family members who have influence in the story. The maid, played with attitude by Jenna-Lee Hyde, doesn’t know her place, creating laughs when she challenges the hierarchy. Plus, there’s her brother with horrific anger-management issues, played perfectly by Liam Tobin. The tailor (David Collins) is needed for fitting a new suit for the doddering Grampa Antonio. The doctor (Michael Wamara) is invited to dinner and offers his services when Rosa collapses.
The first act seems a little long and slow. But perhaps that is necessary as we try to figure out who’s who. Fortunately, the program lists cast members and explains all the relationships. You need the first intermission to read and make note of them. The pace picks up in the second act with the fascinating Sunday dinner conversation and the pivotal moment. Then the third act is the denouement, apologies are made, and the action settles down, again. While Napoli and Abbey are the stars, the other 15 cast members contribute so much. It is really an ensemble play.
This is a very entertaining show, giving us a slice of life in three days, with one extraordinary moment. The many brilliant actors in the cast and the magnificent detailed sets create an interesting show, which will definitely appeal to anyone with Italian heritage.
I mentioned the mouth-watering aroma of Italian food cooking – yes, it is available for tasting. Check out the concessions at the two intermissions and enjoy a delicious treat.
Saturday, Sunday, Monday continues in repertory until October 24 at the Avon Theatre, Stratford. Tickets are available at the Stratford Festival at 1-800-567-1600, or check www.stratfordfestival.ca
Photo: Graham Abbey as Giuseppe “Peppino” Priore and Rose Napoli as Rosa Priore in Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Stratford Festival 2026. Photo by David Hou.
Saturday, Sunday, Monday
By Eduardo De Filippo
Adapted in a new English Version by Donato Santeramo and Antoni Cimolino
Directed by Antoni Cimolino
Performed by Rose Napoli, Graham Abbey, Rod Beattie, Jakob Ehman, Emilio Vieira, Katarine Fiallos, Geraint Wyn Davies, Seana McKenna, Josue Laboucane, Celia Aloma, Maher Sinno, Gordon S. Miller, Michelle Giroux, Jenna-Lee Hyde, Liam Tobin, David Collins, Michael Wamara.
Avon Theatre, Stratford
Until October 24, 2025
Reviewed by Mary Alderson