After a very successful season at the 2017 Adelaide Fringe, Adriano Cappelletta has returned to Adelaide with his rollicking one man show, This Boy's In Love. Cappelletta has been a theatre maker for over ten years, and has been honing his craft for a lot longer. His work spans the spectrum of theatre, cabaret, physical theatre, musicals, both character and stand-up comedy, puppetry, improvisation, bouffon, and clowning. All of these skills, put together with a well-written script and delightful original songs, makes for a very entertaining show.
Making his way through the audience, Cappelletta strews the stage with shirts and promptly drops his trousers before he hits the stage at a fast pace and, within moments, the audience knows exactly where this young man is at; the dreaded dating game. We watch as he agonises over what to wear, and for what? To be treated as a piece of meat and wanted only for his body. But this time, Ado wants more, he really wants to connect, he wants love.
Cappelletta is an incredibly talented man who has worked very hard in recent years to become an all-round actor, and it shows. Johann Walraven has managed to direct him in a precise but free manner. Cappelletta's characterisations are faultless. Ado's story goes from first dates that fizzle, through the orchestrated realms of internet dating. His world spins when he meets Felix out in the real world, and he falls fast and hard.
Cappelletta presents a running monologue, punctuated with song. Accompanying him on piano is Nicholas Tipping, a talent in his own right, whose harmonies and charm added flavour to the show.
Cappelletta can't whistle, but he sure can sing. He has a lovely voice with natural vibrato and he filled the intimate space with warmth and grace as he laid bare his insecurities, which often seem to surface when one contemplates getting into a relationship. Ado invites us along with him as we bear witness to his relationship, from the first stomach flutters and kiss, to making that all time commitment of marriage.
Cappelletta is captivating from start to finish. His songs and script are clever and funny, and his club scene, complete with dancing to the hit song, Relax, by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, is hilarious to watch. All Ado wants is his big gay love story. It's his turn, he is ready, or is he?
Cappelletta's work deserves a larger audience. He was a very welcomed performer onto the Adelaide Cabaret stage and I, for one, hope he returns.
Reviewed by Fiona Talbot-Leigh, Wednesday 20th June 2018.