Spanish Oranges at the Playground Theatre by Alba Arikha is a pacey drama that at surface level offers a subject matter perhaps many have seen before – the breakdown of a marriage. However, Arikha’s words provide an inspired new take on this – what contemporary fame, being chronically online vs offline, and being “cancelled” adds to the mix – taking place over one day as a family prepare for an interview raking place inside their home. 

Maryam D’abo as Fiona, an author returning to the public eye as her novel “Spanish Oranges” is published, her first novel in seven years. D’abo brings a gentility and class akin to old Hollywood and Hepburn – and I found this made her characters habit of blurring the lines being fiction and reality completely believable and less unlikeable due to this. Without wanting to spoil, Jay Villiers is both predictable and well rounded, playing off a frankly thrilling twist excellently. Arianna Branca’s character – Fiona’s daughter Lydia – is introduced well into the third act, and Branca does a great job giving integrity to an otherwise underwritten character in my opinion. 

The play shines in it’s first half, setting up a peculiar but compelling dynamic between it’s two leads, and then completely shattering expectations in again, a completely thrilling twist. It’s after this point the play started to lose me. Ideas and moments could’ve done with more exploration, and the rest of the plot felt typical, and was really quite disappointed with what felt like a hammy ending. At times I felt myself more interested in Fiona’s novel than I was the plot. 

Myriam Cyr directs a strong piece with strong ideas and even stronger players. It’s twist will stay with me for a long time and whilst not always successful in it’s execution, it intrigues and entertains.

Review by Kyanna Cronshaw

Spanish Oranges is on at Playground Theatre until 7th March. You can find out more and book tickets on their website.

If you like this review you might also like my review of Witness for the Prosecution, The Play That Goes Wrong and The Mousetrap.