Two servants, Pasta and Pizza, will welcome the public and will be at the service of their master, a professor whose task will be to introduce and to explain the cultural phenomenon of the Commedia dell’Arte to the spectators. It will then be the task of the servants to bring the Masks to life, using three types of language: verbal, musical and bodily. To facilitate the understanding and the enjoyment of the show, the scenes will be presented in a three-language dialogue: English, Italian and key words in the local language.
The show is a tribute to all the characters of Italian traditional theatrical culture: from the old Venetian merchant, Pantalone, to the servants, from the Doctor to the Captains, the nobles, and lovers. The characters through their games and jokes address fundamental social issues: the power of love, the love of power, the hunger and misery of the less fortunate, and magic, which is essential to change their lives for the better.
The space left for improvisation, the representation of stereotypes in the plots, and the involvement of the audience in a playful way, through direct and constant contact, are fundamental elements of the show. In addition to honouring and reviving the tradition of the cultural phenomenon of Comedy, one of the objectives is to eliminate the distance between actor and spectator, making the audience an integral part of the show. At the end of each performance, the cast and crew will answer any questions and clear up any confusions the audience may have, emphasizing the craftsmanship of the masks and introducing the exhibition that accompanies the show.