Revisiting Shakespeare is always complicated due to the many nuances of his works, but Piergiorgio Sperduti went further. We could almost say that his Love's Labour's Won was freely adapted from All's Well That Ends Well.
In fact, he told me that the only original texts were those of the young Elena (played by Lucrezia Pantano), who was the only one to perform without a mask for this very reason, while the other roles were very modern, with quotes that even recalled famous films.
On the other hand, the Produzioni Prosperane APS company of Isola del Liri is made up of young people, and all the actors on stage were under 22. In fact, the brilliant Antonio Parravano is 17, while the 18-year-old Mateo Delli Colli, with his ease, I'm sure would have been chosen for the role of Harlequin by Strehler!
For this reason, Piergiorgio chose modern texts and a commedia dell'arte style that left the actors free to express themselves. Each performance can be different, and only the chemistry of the comedians can create a fast-paced, laughter-inducing rhythm.
The set in the small but beautiful Alvito theater consisted of just four blue chairs, but the way they were positioned on the stage, combined with the actors' eye-catching masks, filled the scene.
At times, the actors' lines, commenting on themselves and their situations in life, reminded me of the highly acclaimed Noises Off, which I've seen several times at the Teatro Vittoria.
Aside from Elena, each actor played more than one role, including Cristian Cellupica, who wove between the role of the countess-mother and that of Parole. He was very believable in both, despite his beard!
I'd love to see these guys in other roles again to observe their growth as people and as actors. Sometimes this style can mask reality; Commedia dell'Arte is ultimately the art of dramatizing life, while traditional roles require great control of one's body.
I must mention all these young actors who have stood out for the ease with which they have graced the stage: Lucrezia Pantano, Alice Carlini, Cristina Cellupica, Matteo Delli Colli, Gioele Napolitano, Niccolò Saulino, and Antonio Parravano.
I thank Federico Mantova and the FITA – Italian Federation of Theater and the Arts – for inviting me to join the jury of the Ruggito d'Attore Award. I'm discovering Ciociaria from the inside out, and so many wonderful people!
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