The Inferno

by Chris Ann Sherman

Welcome to Florence, Italy! Ben and Annie Sussman are a middle-aged couple on vacation in this fascinating city, trying to sort out life’s next big plan. But there are problems; it’s too hot to go out of their beautiful airbnb apartment and the heat is feeding Ben’s midlife crisis.

Also traveling with them is Annie’s brother, Joey, and his fiancee, Karen. Joey is a simple blue-collar worker; Karen, a salesgirl...

Welcome to Florence, Italy! Ben and Annie Sussman are a middle-aged couple on vacation in this fascinating city, trying to sort out life’s next big plan. But there are problems; it’s too hot to go out of their beautiful airbnb apartment and the heat is feeding Ben’s midlife crisis.

Also traveling with them is Annie’s brother, Joey, and his fiancee, Karen. Joey is a simple blue-collar worker; Karen, a salesgirl for Macy’s, dreams of the life she sees in magazines and reality shows. Eager to see as much of Florence as humanly possible, they are not too happy to learn the news that they are housebound due to the heat.

With tensions at the boiling point, the situation soon escalates, with one damaging disaster after another besieges the apartment. The last fiery straw is when all of Tuscany is in a blackout, closing all hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets. Forced indoors due to the heat, they unwillingly learn valuable life lessons from each other.

If the heat doesn’t kill them, they may just kill each other. Will anyone survive The Inferno?

Welcome to Florence, Italy! Ben and Annie Sussman are a middle-aged couple on vacation in this fascinating city. However, faced with the prospect of early retirement, Ben is trying to sort out life’s next big plan. But there are other problems; it’s too hot to go out of their beautiful airbnb apartment and Annie's brother, Joey and his girlfriend, Karen, join them on the trip. During their stay, one damaging disaster after another besieges the apartment. The last fiery straw is when all of Tuscany is in a blackout, closing all hotels, restaurants and supermarkets. Forced indoors due to the heat, running out of food and patience, tempers flare as they all try to cohabitate together in a foreign country. In the end, Ben is not the only one who realizes his next move.They each unwittingly learn valuable life lessons from each other.

Ben and Annie Sussman are a middle-aged couple on vacation in Italy during a heatwave. Faced with the prospect of early retirement, Ben is trying to sort out life’s next big plan. Annie's brother, Joey and his girlfriend, Karen, join them on the trip. During their stay, one damaging disaster after another besieges the apartment. The last fiery straw is when all of Tuscany is in a blackout. Tempers flare as they all try to cohabitate together in a foreign country. In the end, Ben is not the only one who realizes his next move.They each unwittingly learn valuable life lessons from each other.

Ben and Annie Sussman are a middle-aged couple on vacation in Florence during the worst heatwave in 20 years. Ben, facing the prospect of early retirement, is trying desperately to find his next big plan. Annie’s brother and his girlfriend join them just as Florence then encounters a major blackout. Tempers fire and flare as Ben is not the only one who realizes his next move.

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The Inferno

Recommended by

  • Paul Donnelly: The Inferno

    Facing a major life decision, Ben need a little peace and quiet on his Italian vacation. He gets anything but thanks to his wife, his brother-in-law, the brother-in-law's girlfriend, and a power outage in the midst of a relentless heat wave. Very funny complications ensue, including bursts of wonderful physical comedy. As in all good comedies, order is restored at the end, but the journey there is a riotous treat.

    Facing a major life decision, Ben need a little peace and quiet on his Italian vacation. He gets anything but thanks to his wife, his brother-in-law, the brother-in-law's girlfriend, and a power outage in the midst of a relentless heat wave. Very funny complications ensue, including bursts of wonderful physical comedy. As in all good comedies, order is restored at the end, but the journey there is a riotous treat.

  • Kim E. Ruyle: The Inferno

    Dante’s Inferno has nothing on Ben and Annie’s vacation. Instead of a wonderful cultural adventure in Italy, it's a vacation from hell. Everything goes wrong in their sumptuous vacation apartment, including the air conditioning during a record-breaking heatwave. When Annie’s brother and girlfriend arrive, bickering escalates and is punctuated with non-stop physical comedy. Characters are engaging and well-drawn. In the end, they all leave with more than bad memories. It's lots of fun. Well done.

    Dante’s Inferno has nothing on Ben and Annie’s vacation. Instead of a wonderful cultural adventure in Italy, it's a vacation from hell. Everything goes wrong in their sumptuous vacation apartment, including the air conditioning during a record-breaking heatwave. When Annie’s brother and girlfriend arrive, bickering escalates and is punctuated with non-stop physical comedy. Characters are engaging and well-drawn. In the end, they all leave with more than bad memories. It's lots of fun. Well done.

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Abington Theater, Year 2021

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Abington Theater, Year 2021

Awards

  • CreateTHEATER 2023 New Works Festival
    CreateTHEATER
    Winner
    2023