HOW A BOOK CLUB GOT STARTED IN ROME
( MAYBE THE FIRST IN ITALY) .

From noted NZ playwright Roger Hall.

Three years ago, Jiannina Carlo translated and performed my play The Book Club in Italy. She (and I) had hopes that it would transfer to a “proper” theatre and become established in the repertory of Italian Theatre. It was not to be, but a couple of days ago, I received the following email:
Hi Roger,
Had to tell you that I was tracked down by a group of women who came to see "The Book Club" (many came twice).
They were celebrating three years of 'their' book club founded after coming to see the show. Grateful for my, and your, contribution in stimulating them, they wanted me to know how much they get out of their monthly meetings.
With time, some husbands/partners have also joined and they are now turning down many other people wanting to participate, because of space - they would like the meetings to remain in homes. Although not one producer, not a single impresario, not a lone theatre director turned up, it is great to know that the show gave birth to possibly Italy's one and only "book club".

If you are ever in Rome, you have an open invitation from them, and would be welcomed as their first-ever author.
Hope all is well with you,
kindest regards,
Jiannina

I asked her to remind me of the history of its presentation and which turned out to be for her a heart-breaking experience.

'The Book Club' was first presented in an art gallery in Marino, which is a town in the Castelli Romani - the famous hills south of Rome. The people who came to see the show were enthusiastic and their reaction prompted me to find a venue in Rome. It was not easy - a contemporary play written by an unknown playwright (in Italy), an actress without any aura of famousness, a fine director who, to make things worse,was a young woman, and no reviews to go by.
Finally, a group of women who had recently opened a bookshop near Rome's central station 'Termini', were willing to give the show a try.It was a tight fit for the audience, but the unexpected success of the' The Book Club' was a boost to their business that was just kicking off. There was a screen in the corner of the shop that acted as a tiny dressing-room and there I waited for the show to start, comfortablyseated in a chair.
That comfortable chair, however, on one of thefollowing nights was soon taken to provide an extra seat because the'tiny' house was full. In its place I was given a stool. I knew the show was a success when one evening even the stool was taken and I had to stand behind the screen waiting.
In spite of all this, I was unable to get one reviewer, half a producer, a quarter of an impresario, a valet sent by a theatre director to come and see the play. Any impresario witnessing the response of the audience, could have made a financial hit out of it. Never mind - the women who founded a book club, made up for the deep disappointment that I felt because the workers in the field did not bother to come and see for themselves the show's potential. Apart from teaching at the academy, I'm working more for film now and the odd small role in television.


Jiannina