‘Pipino il Breve’, a musical by Tony Cucchiara, was performed by Bottega d’Arte Teatrale in The Italian Forum Cultural Centre, in The Italian Forum, Leichardt, in Sydney.
Three performances spanned over the weekend of the 21st and 22nd May starring the amazing talents of Emilio Lomonaco, Sarah Arnold, Pippo Murgida, Michael Gioiello and Veronica Leoni.
The production, directed by Santo Crisafulli, who also portrays the title character, brings to life ‘an exciting journey through history, myth and folklore, focusing once again on the strong identity roots of Italian culture and traditions .’
Crisafulli spent many months developing and rehearsing the play, with an amazingly dedicated and talented production team, designing and producing authentic props, costumes, and outstanding musical performances. It must be noted that musician Luca Warburton painstakingly interpreted the musical compositions which were not notated by the playwright and composer, who sadly, passed away in 2018.
The play was developed and rehearsed at San Antonio da Padova Village in Ryde before final dress rehearsals took place in The Italian Forum Cultural Centre, in Little Italy, where it would eventually be performed.
Members of the production team promised a “fun” and “ enjoyable play”. A humble understatement for a unique, colourful and exhilarating masterpiece of theatrical art. The play’s uniqueness stems from the composition of folk music, tarantellas and opera all packaged together into a brilliant, colourful and entertaining universe.
The production’s greatest triumph however is the personification of live actors performing as puppets in the tradition of ‘Opera dei Pupi’ (Sicilian Marionettes). While stirring operatic performances and big production numbers are fed directly into your soul, it is the micro moments, of action and reaction, that the supporting cast, portraying Pepino’s retinues, damsels and courtiers, that provide a constant kaleidoscope of colour, texture and sound.
Bottega d’Arte Teatrale, has been active for a quite few years, having registered as an organisation in 2012.
The collective is a theatre workshop which they describe as ‘designed to promote culture and ethnuse Italian speakers both young and old to preserve the art of the language.
This production, sponsored by CO.AS.IT. and community patrons such as ITASPORT (Ernesto Meduri), Opening Doors Hardware, Alfredo’s Cocktail Bar, and the Father Atanasio Gonelli Charitable Fund (Felice Montrone) certainly was not short on entertainment.
The story, adapted from the life of historical figure Pepin the Short, follows a King who has no heir and seeks a noble bride to become his Queen.
Laced with love, passion, betrayal and combat, the play lays the Sicilian heart bare.
It is all sewn together with tremendous humour and a flamboyance that is so authentically Siclian.
This interpretation is an important production for cultural preservation that reflects Italian culture in a way that is rarely experienced in this far away land.
The experience is destined to remain with audiences long after the final curtain is drawn.
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