Fringe show A Special Day inspired by Uno Giornata Particolare — the 1977 Italian movie starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni

THEATRE A Special Day 3.5 STARS Home Economics at Girls School REVIEW SIMON COLLINS May 3, 1938. Adolf Hitler begins his week-long visit to Italy, greeted with open arms by Benito Mussolini as the fascists flex their muscles. All of Rome turns out to see the Fuhrer and the Duce ... well, not all Romans. An overworked housewife sees her six kids and husband off to the parade, while in another apartment, a melancholy bachelor contemplates drastic action. The unlikely pair meet thanks to a pesky parrot and have a memorable day for reasons other than the love-in between two of the 20th century’s most abject monsters. Inspired by Uno Giornata Particolare — the 1977 Italian movie starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni — A Special Day is a kitchen sink drama played out against the backdrop of fascism. This co-production of Mexico City’s Por Piedad Teatro and Off-Broadway’s The Play Company also takes place against the literal and quite nifty backdrop of staging painted with blackboard paint. Thus, armed with chalk and a few props, Mexican actors Antonio Vega and Ana Graham, pictured, take us from apartment to apartment, open and shut windows, and even draw hooks on which to hang hats, coats and aprons. This cute device doesn’t distract from the acting, which also involves doing off-stage voices — the needy kids, the grouchy pro-fascist husband and noisy neighbour, plus phones, doorbells and that errant parrot. A Special Day feels much bigger than a one-room, two-hander. All credit to Graham and Vega, who bring much passion and authenticity to their roles. This bittersweet human drama deftly explores how politics — especially right-wing politics — intrudes upon day-to-day lives, without lecturing. A flower in the Fringe World forest, A Special Day is molto buona. A Special Day runs until Sunday. Ticket details at fringeworld.com.au