The debut play from novelist Alba Arikha, Spanish Oranges, enjoying its world premiere at the Playground Theatre, is a 90-minute story of a marriage.
Fiona (Maryam D’Abo) is a successful writer, with her 4th novel under her belt. When journalist Peter (Jay Villiers) arrives for an interview, secrets and lies tumble out in one tense meeting.
Placed in Livi Carpenter’s set of boxes and books, Spanish Oranges offers a glimpse into the life Fiona shares with husband Ivo, an ageing actor struggling with the consequences of his actions.
To say more would spoil the intentions of this muddled play, which claims to be loosely based on the likes of Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (I’d also add that Interview came to mind early on).
D’Abo and Villiers have thin characterisations to work with, and a certain tiredness of plot. Too many things feel predictable and unbelievable, and the introduction of a third character, Lydia (Arianna Branca), feels superfluous.
There are interesting points to be made in Spanish Oranges about appropriating other people’s stories, hiding hurt and betrayal, and dealing with professional resentment. However in the current version they feel a bit lost.
Miriam Cyr’s direction deals effectively with a couple of tense moments. And, without giving anything away, the interplay between D’Abo and Villiers evolves organically to fit the unfolding plot.
It is just a shame that Spanish Oranges lacks a satisfying bite or a situation that feels real. Throwing in a couple of references to gentrification and #MeToo offers a sense of time, but lose their focus.
Arikha’s play is just too busy and tries to force in issues of trauma and disloyalty without capturing the emotional connection required to keep us invested.
It’s not Virginia Woolf, Dance of Death, or Scenes from a Marriage. It does attempt to, as the blurb says, explore “the lies we tell on the page, on the stage, and to each other”. For me, it just stumbles too many times on the way.
2.5 stars in its current form.
Spanish Oranges continues at Playground Theatre until 7 Mar 2026 with details here. It is the debut production by Miriam Cyr and Maryam D’Abo as M&M Ents.
Photo credit: Counterminers, M&M Ents, and The Playground Theatre