When Antonio Monaco called me for the new show by the Il Filo d'Aria company, I couldn't help but book a seat right away. The previous show had touched me so much that I brought it to our Teatro al Solstizio festival at Donna Vittori's winery (read here ).
Antonio always chooses (and sometimes writes) unconventional texts that leave an indelible mark. His shows delve into the unresolved thoughts of our lives and help remind us that we are human beings with our human limitations.
So, together with some friends, we went on Sunday afternoon to the small but welcoming Teatro Elettra near the Colosseum, and it was also the occasion for a stroll in the heart of the city during the famous Ottobrate Romane (Roman October days and evenings) in the Monti district.
Ascendente Cancro - Cancer Rising is the story of a convicted felon released from prison under protection who is haunted by the ghost of his partner, who died in an attack on a judge. But while these are internal obsessions, the external ones are fueled by the policeman who watches him and by a very intrusive neighbor who forces him out of his silence.
The neighbor turns out to be a person connected to his past who had chosen to live next door to the convicted felon so she could connect with him. She knew everything about the man's story, and the surprise ending leaves even more questions to be answered about our Italian past, but also about each of our personal pasts.
Little Electra Theatre of Rome
The theme could have sparked political discussions on the Years of Lead in Italy, and while a passage recited by the repentant makes it clear that no one believes in fairy tales anymore, the entire show remains an introspective investigation into human feelings in extreme conditions.
The silence in the room hid the sound of each of our thoughts and the memories awakened by the actors' performances. On stage, I had the pleasure of admiring Antonio Monaco, Michela Rossitti, and Arianna Ferrucci, but above all, a great Antonio Digirolamo, who conveyed all the torments of a repentant man defeated by life.
At the end of the show, applause filled the entire theater, and the chatter outside was facilitated by Rome's magical October evenings. I saw some of the actors from Cigno Cigno again, and after a heartfelt thank you to Antonio Monaco for the show and the emotional impact of his theater company, we went to dinner with my friends, walking through Rome.
Cancer rising, not to be missed.
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