Four Flat Whites brings comedy gold to Rotorua

Starring in Four Flat Whites, Paul Barrett, Hilary Norris, Phil Grieve and Lyndee-Jane Rutherford are directed by the unstoppable, Geraldine Brophy. Photo / Supplied

Roger Hall is at it again when he deftly satirises manners, morals, loves and lusts in the highly entertaining Four Flat Whites.

Blending cracker one-liners with lots of laughs and astute observation, Four Flat Whites in Italy is classic Hall and it's showing at the Civic Theatre on Sunday.

Actor Phil Grieve has worked in a number of Hall productions over the years and he believes Hall's English upbringing enables him to satirise our Kiwi culture, creating comedy gold.

"There's something to be said for being an outside eye. He is one of those 10-pound Poms who came here, and he has grown up observing that Kiwi culture. He absolutely makes us laugh about ourselves," said Grieve.

Grieve said Hall's scripts were always appealing to play.

"He has got a good ear for the vernacular. He writes in a way people speak not how you read."

The scene for Four Flat Whites is set when retired librarians Alison and Adrian excitedly plan to embark on their long-awaited, and carefully saved for, Italian holiday.

But when their best friends pull out at the last minute, they find themselves sharing their precious holiday with their neighbours - Harry, a wealthy plumber and his new wife Judy.

As these mismatched couples valiantly negotiate the pit-falls of a later-in-life OE, it's not just the Italians the intrepid travellers have to deal with - it's also each other.

"The two mismatched couples find they have more in common than they realise. They wouldn't normally be associating with each other - the couples are stalwart red vs blue politically," said Grieve.

"We are flushing that out in the scenes. It's that old thing about don't judge a book by its cover.

"People you might think are not on your side, are actually at heart good-natured people. As Kiwis, we are not that diametrically opposed. We give politicians about nine years and then give the opposition a go," he said.

What: Four Flat Whites
Where: Civic Theatre
When: Sunday 4pm - 6.30pm
Tickets: Ticketmaster