By Alberto Macchione
Star Athlete, Producer, Actor and Director, Lina Sacco was in the audience to witness the stars of the future in Bottega D’Arte Teatrale’s latest production ‘Natale e Anche Qui’ with the participation of ‘Il Coro Dei Piccoli’.
Director, Producer, Writer and Host Santo Crisafulli moved the production to St. Joan of Arc Haberfield after not being able to secure space at the newly acquired ‘Teatro’ at the Italian forum Leichhardt.
A healthy audience of all ages enjoyed the humour, personality, history and music that formed a highly entertaining spectacle. The audience was gifted a cavalcade of surprises including Topo Gigio, powerful Opera performances, an ancient instrument and a guest choir to name a few.
A walk-on surprise was the 24 strong voices making up the Belcantico Choir. Performing a stirring rendition of Handel’s ‘Hallelujah’, the choir were adorned in black creating a stark contrast to the colorful imagery of the children’s performances. Under the direction of Maestro Xiaoming Lam, the performers earned a rousing reception for their meaningful and emotive interpretation.
Francesca D’Amato’s technical support created a whole universe for audiences to enjoy which included cinematic and video pieces building the many layers of multi media that the Bottega D’arte Teatrale is famous for.
14 children led by the superior talents of Kayla and supported by the highly precocious Noah, Ruggero, Joanna and a troupe of starlets and up-and-comers that will no doubt have stratospheric futures.
Opening with a video depiction of the Nativity Scene, the audience was instantly beholden to the live action as a young Mary is escorted through the audience on a donkey. The search for a place to stay was the start of a miraculous journey where we witness the birth of the Holy Child.
A poem written by Santo Crisafulli is recited before the writer enters the stage to explain the origins of the titular song, ‘E Natale Anche Qui’. We find out that the song originates from a musical entitled ‘Forza Venite Gente’ which is an ode to the life of St. Francis.
Il Coro dei Piccoli take their places and belt out the song to the joy of a near capacity audience.
It is this mix of history and culture where Santo’s productions are constantly educating us and entertaining us at the same time. He has a unique ability to combine the ancient and the historical with the contemporary and give us all so much joy and that it not only fills our hearts but our minds as well.
This is art at the highest level and we have a very special opportunity to reside in a city where we can attend such an event with the visceral impact and immediacy of live Theatre.
The highlights of the evening are in the regional histories being performed, in perhaps, the only performances in the Southern Hemisphere. ‘Voci di un Antico Natale’ treated us not only to a traditional Sicilian piece, however it was accompanied by the sound of a live zampogna. Host Santo Crisafulli explained the origins of this ancient instrument called the zampogna which was not only invented centuries before the Scottish Bagpipe, but was often played by sheep herders until becoming popularised along with certain Christmas carols in more recent years.
‘Quanno Nascette Ninno’ was a rare opportunity for the children to perform, and for audience members to bear witness, to an 18th Century dialect from the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies as would have been spoken in the 18th Century.
Stage right housed the wonderful Carlyn Chan who always underscores the Bottega D’arte performances from her role with the keys and the percussion and is a joy to listen to. Accompanied by Christina Ravkin, Laurie Pizzuti and Christopher Lampropoulos the music was lively, animated and joyous throughout.
On stage while the ‘Piccoli’ shine, Opera greats, Michael Gioelli and Sarah Arnold would step up in the latter stages to render their spine tingling power to the performance, leaving audience members bathing in their musical mastery.
Santo summed up the evening by suggesting that by “being bilingual is not simply about speaking two languages; it is about understanding two cultures, building bridges and keeping heritage alive”. ‘E Natale Qui’ accomplished all of that while giving its attendees a great day or night out!
