Lovers in Izmir

Lovers in Izmir

May 22–24, 2017, 9:00 PM
LUISS Guido Carli, University Gardens, Viale Pola, 12 - Rome

Text taken from Carlo Goldoni’s Gli innamorati and L’impresario delle Smirne

• adapted and directed by Ferdinando Ceriani
• assistant director and vocalist Alice Guidi
• music by Bizet, Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Lehar, and Ranzato

To mark the 310th anniversary of his birth, this year’s show, which concludes the 15th year of the LUISS Theater Workshop, spotlights Carlo Goldoni and, in particular, two of his most famous comedies: Gli innamorati and L’impresario delle Smirne.

In an original adaptation, I had fun telling the story of a penniless provincial company, led by a greedy impresario and a director who has fallen on hard times and lives only on anecdotes. The company is chosen by a mysterious Turkish businessman to go to Izmir and perform Carlo Goldoni’s Gli innamorati. This opportunity shakes up the monotonous routine of their tour in Puglia. All the actors try to shine, hoping to secure a ticket to the Bosphorus. But will they manage to get hired by the Turk?

This dramaturgical structure allowed me to intersperse some of the funniest scenes from Gli innamorati with fragments from L'impresario delle Smirne, creating a metatheatrical interplay enhanced by some of the most beautiful opera arias, which the young actors enjoy singing and choreographing.

Another unique feature is the decision to split the main characters from Gli innamorati into three, each defined by a dominant emotion. This means we simultaneously see a feisty Eugenia, a romantic Eugenia, and a devastated Eugenia on stage, all interacting with a combative Fulgenzio, a rational Fulgenzio, and a romantic Fulgenzio.

In short, a whirlwind of characters, each more extravagant than the last, will bring this comedy to life. It’s also a declaration of love for the magical, ephemeral world that is the theater. Enjoy!

Ferdinando Ceriani

• Alberto Miraglia
• Alessio Gosciu
• Angelo Maria Naborre
• Beatrice Sorrentino
• Cecilia Menichella
• Chiara Perrone
• Clara Piazza
• Clarissa Guerrini
• Cristiano De Vergori
• Daniela Ceci
• Davide Di Staso
• Edoardo Costanzo
• Elisa Casciaro
• Elisa Luccioni
• Emilio Cosentino
• Federico Radi
• Flaminia De Felicis
• Flavio Pieralice
• Francesco Solfrizzi
• Gabriella Rollino
• Gianluca Pellicani
• Ginevra Candidi
• Gioconda Elena Pellegrino
• Giorgia Verna
• Giovanni Visaggio
• Giulia Falcioni
• Giulia Giraudo
• Giuseppe Consoli
• Greta Belcaro
• Ilaria Pietrangeli
• Leonardo De Marco
• Luisa Della Pietra
• Noemi Lombardi
• Roberto Vigorita
• Rosanna Mammato
• Sofia Forestiere
• Teodora Vulpe
• Valerio Rinaldi
• Valerio Vincenzo Coronella
• Vittoria Liguori

LUISS Cultural Activities
T: 06 85225651/5655
attivitaculturali@luiss.it