ALFONSINA Directed by Pedro Ilgenfritz

Dunedin Fringe festival 2010.

Alfonsina is a comic depiction of the adventures and misfortunes of a young Argentinean cleaner facing the social, economic and cultural challenges of migrating to Auckland in search of a new life.
 
Escaping the harsh suburbs of Buenos Aires (Argentina) straight to downtown Auckland, Alfonsina manages to find a job cleaning offices.
 
She quickly meets another cleaner, her neighbour Hera. Hera introduces Alfonsina to Tracy, a former cleaner who is now the boss of the cleaning company she works for and who is torn between her point of view as an employer and her compassionate support of her employees.  
 
Alfonsina is a lovely comedy with heart and beautifully performed by three young talented actresses.
 
The show reveals the contradictions and paradoxes of the immigration experience; it is a poetic meditation on the conditions and hardship of the lower classes, friendship, loyalty, honesty and the desire to have better conditions of living.
 
Background
 
LAB: Research Theatre Company is a permanent acting laboratory created in 2009, engaged in the research of actors’ training and the creation of theatre shows with the sponsorship of UNITEC Research Committee and UNITEC Faculty of Creative Industries and Business.
 
Alfonsina is the first performance outcome of this research.
 
"The support from Unitec gave us the opportunity to research and investigate the methodology of acting, to create a permanent ensemble and to travel to performer. Without this help we would never be able to take Alfonsina anywhere," says director Pedro Ilgenfritz.
 
Our objective is to develop a systematic approach to theatre making and training as a permanent group of actors that work together for a long period.  We are engaged in rigorous theatre research intended to break through new areas of theatre practice, challenging paradigms and investigate the essence of drama; we are focused on working continuously on rediscovering the basic laws that govern life on stage and the development of theatre performances with quality and originality.

ALFONSINA was one of the highlights of Wellington Fringe Festival 2010 and was praised by the audience and critics:

"Excellent direction and three superb performances from the cast"

(Ewen Coleman - THE DOMINION POST)

"Fluid ensemble work and impeccable timing"  

(John Smythe - THEATREVIEW)