It is wonderful to see old people playing make-belief and the experience is full of charm. While Edith is very matter of fact, Oscar can be considerably grumpier. He is always questioning where their paintings have gone and Edith says they are away for cleaning. More like money laundering we suspect as Edith tries to protect him from the reality of living on a pension.

There is a visitor, the plumber Christopher Karlsen (Nathan Welsh) who has come to fix the kitchen issues. As the plumber works Oscar and Edith give us more details of their life and loss of a baby that lived for 7 days. Edith flirts with Christopher and Oscar gets jealous. The home help arrives, the first one was allegedly allergic to cats. Vivian Sunde (Charlotte Beaumont) is rather stressed and hasn’t slept well so her cleaning is a bit frantic. She talks about her life to Oscar.

Edith and Oscar get ready to travel to Venice bringing out the pasta and chianti and props like the boaters worn by the gondoliers. Christopher joins in. His wife is Italian and he can match Oscar’s few words and wears his straw hat.  Edith has had this feeling about Christopher that he, like her, is musical and he sings in Italian.  This is a perfect accompaniment to their stay at the Hotel des Bains at the Venetian Lido. Vivienne was in the Merchant Navy and she’s a good companion too. 

The performances do not make the Tellmans overly sweet.  This charming play is affectionate and believable about how to make the best of life. Don’t miss it!