"Roman Nights" is a moving account of the 25-year Anna Magnani-Tennessee Williams friendship. In probing the relationship of these two, the piece is more a character study (particularly of Magnani) than a play with a well-honed plot. But one also learns a good deal about the artistic struggle and the milieu in which each operates.
The Magnani character, brilliantly portrayed by Franca Barchiesi, is the one who catches fire. Barchiesi manages to rise above the fact that she is too young and pretty to be the legendary actress. But she gets it just right--speech inflections, body language, and all--truly invading the role, becoming Magnani before our eyes.
Roy Miller is less exciting as Williams, perhaps because he is saddled with a less flashy role. Tennessee Williams, as a writer, internalized his thoughts and feelings, spilling it only on paper. Magnani, on the other hand, was a volatile creature who hid nothing. (In fact, at one point in the play, she urges Williams to become an Italian, to let the emotions explode.)
And while Barchiesi is never out of character, Miller has difficulty initially with his southern accent, but slowly masters it, becoming more convincing as the play progresses.
Playwright Franco D'Alessandro has lovingly crafted this piece, with elegant, gracious prose that does justice to Williams (including passages with Williams' own words). At the same time, each artist's life history emerges.
If there is any criticism, it is that the piece tends to be repetitious and could benefit from editing. Too often, the friends spend time uncorking the bottles and toasting each other with wine.
But this is minor criticism. Most importantly, "Roman Nights" pays tribute to an enduring, remarkable friendship between a straight woman and a gay man, between an actress and a playwright, between an Italian and an American, between Anna Magnani and Tennessee Williams.