At the Trianon Viviani theatre in Napoli, the day of Valentine's day it turns into an occasion to celebrate Toto with a unique theatrical tribute. On February 14th at 21 pm, the space dedicated to Neapolitan Song will host the world premiere of “Io sono parte nopeo e parte napoletano… il regno del Principe”.
Article Key Points
The show is the result of the work of Franco Cutolo, who takes care of both the writing and the direction.
The bond between Pulcinella and Totò
The work explores the deep bond between the figure of Pulcinella and Totò, through a journey into the Neapolitan theatre of the twentieth century, telling the story of the city and its great artists. Cutolo emphasizes how the work represents an opportunity to rediscover the history of Naples, often forgotten, through a metamorphosis that involves the mask of Pulcinella and Totò, also touching on illustrious figures such as Eduardo and Viviani.
A journey between tradition and innovation
The performance unfolds in two acts that transport the audience into a universe suspended in time, combining elements of the Commedia dell'arte with the opera buffa and crossing influences of Stravinsky and Picasso. This journey leads to the transformation of the Neapolitan mask into an archetype of Totò, in which the pupo becomes a puppet artist.
Cast and production
The cast includes Massimo Salvetti, Gino De Luca, Enzo Attanasio, Pietro Juliano, Nadia Pepe and Lello Russo, accompanied by rappers Bazzarioti and a musical ensemble directed by Luca Mennella. The production, by Li Febi armonici, features students from the Academy of Fine Arts of Naples for the scenography and Massimo Tambaro for the make-up. The show will be repeated on February 15 and 16.
The initiative is supported by the Campania Region, the Metropolitan City of Naples and the Ministry of Culture, with the patronage of Rai Campania.
Article published on 10 February 2025 - 12:14
The Valentine's Day event seems interesting, but I don't know if the theme is that attractive. Totò is great, but the connection with Pulcinella is not clear. I hope it is well done and engaging for the public.
Yes, I also think there are many elements to explore in this show, but the combination of tradition and innovation could lead to interesting results. It will be interesting to see how it is realized.