REVIEW: ORANGE FLOWER WATER by Craig Wright at Old Red Lion Playhouse 19-22 February 2026
' All four cast members bring out the strengths and negative qualities of their characters colourfully.' ★★★ ½
What does it mean when a person cheats on their spouse? Orange Flower Water explores this question through the marriages of David and Cathy, and Beth and Brad in a small mid-western American town. This play explores questions of a personal nature. What is the obligation of a promise? How can people be so oblivious to the unhappiness of their partners? Can there be success in a new relationship based on infidelity?
Brad (T’ai Hartley) is a self-proclaimed “prick”, whose rough manners (including talking of taking a sh*t in inappropriate places) and mundane interests may explain why his wife, Beth (Emily Serdahl) has been unhappy for a decade in her decision to marry him. Less clear is David (Samuel Greco)’s marriage to Cathy (Emma Baker), which is shown as incredibly loving, if sometimes saccharine, through home videos played at the beginning and between scenes. And yet, David is found to be doing his best to get Beth to sleep with him. Beth’s internal struggle to engage comes from her conservative religious background, and she makes the case for why God would be an argument for not cheating on her husband. It is an interesting tussle, well performed by both. In that moment, though, procreation (based on a dream) was the final reason for the infidelity (and the play’s title), and the two commit to each other.
The actors are at the top of their game here with smooth, naturalistic acting and they bring the audience fully into the marital and sexual dynamics at play, especially Greco’s David with his wooing of Beth, and Beth and Brad’s final argument. All four cast members bring out the strengths and negative qualities of their characters colourfully. The direction (Todd and Dunlop) of the scenes is well considered. Even (possibly) the strangest sex scene in theatre - either the most awkward or the best power play (by spurned spouse Cathy) in an intimate setting - ends up coming together, on a bed staged as the main focus of the meticulously placed set.
The play, written in 2003, has aspects that give a slice of real life and other parts that feel a bit vague. Perhaps 70 minutes is not enough to unpack these heavy questions fully. Why would the confident, ‘prick’ husband not confront when he found out about the affair? He hints, even asking David to choose between their wives in a mental chess game, but declines to address it head-on until forced. The inclusion of these home videos incorporate a sense of comfort and familiarity, and also some confusion, as they make you wonder why David would want to leave this seemingly perfect life with his loving wife and kids. The reasons don’t totally hold water, but perhaps they never do. In the end, and while there is some fallout in the midst of re-building, the conclusion ties up neatly overall, with the initial premonition about orange flower water giving only some chance to flow.
Written by Craig Wright
Performed by Emma Baker, Samuel Greco, T’ai Hartley, Emily Serdahl
Co-Directed by Peter Todd and Eleanor Dunlop
Produced by Mina Moniri, Scar Theatre Company
