Review: New Plymouth Repertory Society's Vino Veritas, running to April 30, reviewed by Ilona Hanne
In wine there is truth, and there's no need to whine about going to see this play - it will leave you absolutely thirsting for more of what was unquestionably some of the best acting I have seen in local theatre.
Like any good wine, New Plymouth Repertory Society's Vino Veritas is best enjoyed with good company, and the cast and backstage crew are certainly a great company. Everything about the show, from the props in the entranceway to the costumes, props, set design, lighting and sound through to the actors on stage, is top-shelf material.
Written by David MacGregor, the play is set in the living room of Lauren and Phil. It is the night of Halloween and the couple are joined by another couple, Ridley and Claire, as they prepare to attend an annual Halloween party nearby. Before they leave, however, they try out a mysterious South American ceremonial wine made from the skin of the blue dart tree frog, traditionally drunk by couples the night before their wedding. The play's title comes from the Latin proverb, which translates to "in wine, the truth", and the wine the couples indulge in is a truth serum, resulting in plenty of unbridled honesty as the wine flows and so does the truth.