LENDINARA (Rovigo) – The fourth edition of the Tomeo Prize has come to life, the provincial theater competition for groups of children aged 6 to 19, organized by Irene Lissandrin, ViviRovigo and the municipality of Lendinara, in partnership with the regional multidisciplinary circuit Arteven- Mic-Veneto Region, in collaboration with the municipalities of Rovigo, Badia Polesine, Loreo and Taglio di Po, the patronage of the Province of Rovigo and the Rovigo culture Foundation and the main sponsorship of Inox tech Spa.
In the running to compete for the Tomeo 2024, last Saturday 4 May, they took to the stage of the Ballarin Theater in Lendinara, the Giuseppe Mazzini primary school in Villanova del Ghebbo (Ic Costa Fratta) with the fairy tale “Zuppa di sasso”, in the 6-11 year category; and i Febo junior, theater workshop of San Martino di Venezze organized by the professional company Febo Teatro, with the brilliant comedy “Il Grand Hotel”, in the 11-14 year category. In the evening, out of competition, the Tomeo Prize hosted the tragedy (Anti)gone by Tuc theater lab superiorsan over 14 workshop in Mestre, organized by the professional company Tuc theatre.
Meanwhile, the votes of the public, the 11th juror, have been made known, which will mediate with those, for now, secrets of the Jury. The musical comedy “Sister act” of the Venezze middle school integrated at the Rovigo Conservatory is in the lead with 9,835; closely followed by the fairy tale “Zuppa di sasso” from the Mazzini elementary school in Villanova del Ghebbo with 9,816. However, they belong to different categories and do not directly clash.
“Stone soup” is a pleasant fairy tale with anthropomorphic animals by Anaïs Vaugelade (illustrated book published by Babalibri, first ed. 2001); the competing text is an adaptation of the dramaturgy by Danilo Conti and Antonella Piroli, directed by the teacher Laura Campion. The show is the result of an annual school project which involved the entire complex of the Mazzini elementary school in Villanova del Ghebbo, from first to fifth grade, including half a dozen teachers and the children’s families, with the mothers who prepared the cakes to sell for self-financing. Of great educational value is the spirit with which the teachers approached the Tomeo Prize to the children, not as a competition, but as an opportunity: the real competition took place during this school year, the second of the introduction of the theatre, every day, seeing schoolchildren change from shy to participatory, to free self-expression. “We have already won” was Laura Campion’s conclusion when she presented the show to the Jury.
“Zuppa di sasso” sees the protagonists impersonating the animals, the 18 pupils of the fifth class, flanked by 25 first and second grade children, grouped in a green choir of singing trees that sway in the night storm, from which the story starts; the rest of the children are engaged in the choreographic part, when the animal inhabitants of the village celebrate the newfound pleasure of being together, around the soup prepared with the mysterious stone. Welcoming the other, the different, the wolf who arrives with the magic stone, and transforming the meeting into an opportunity to overcome reluctance and rebuild a supportive community: this is the message of the story. The children of the live choir are tender and talented, in their green fronded costumes. The little interpreters of the various animals are all brave and very capable. The selection of music is engaging, from “50 special” (Lunapop), to “You have a friend in me” (Toy story) to Quentin Tarantino.
“The Grand Hotel” is a hilarious overflowing succession of gags and absurd situations, linguistic games along the lines of “Il Signor Veneranda” by Carlo Manzoni, and references to the television sketches of the 70s variety shows. On stage, the 16 students of the San Martino di Venezze theater workshop Febo junior, in the 11-14 year category. Original text by Ivan di Noia (Barabao theatre), reworked by Nicola Perin (Febo theatre), who directs it. The young actors, dressed as perfect high-class hotel waiters, play a gallery of snobbish characters, who frequent the luxurious hall of the Grand hotel and burden its typologies. Basic scenography, the space is all for acting. Nicola Perin has created a mise en scène in which the collective prevails over the individual, collaboration punctuated by protagonism. No one can feel inferior or undervalued, because everyone is indispensable to the beating rhythm of the text, supported, in turn, by a continuous change of scene. The physical and emotional difficulties of the individual (there are children with discomfort) are dissolved in the strength of the group and practically disappear. An atmosphere protected by the collective is created, in which everyone can express themselves in their own way and “shine on the stage”, as Nicola Perin commented. Correct occupation of space and acting time, the very young actors are convinced and convincing; they have fun and entertain the audience, who applaud continuously. Excellent performance by these good students and generous theatrical preparation by Nicola Perin, who truly used the theater to allow the children to bring out the best in themselves.
In the evening, (Anti)gone of the Tuc theater lab in Mestre. A difficult and surprising choice, the classic tragedy Antigone by Sophocles, freely reworked by director Claudia Bellemo. The mise en scène is even more surprising, in the use of choral acting, even for the individual characters. A difficulty within the difficulty, which required great preparation, concentration, study of the characters and acting work to recover one’s emotions, to then be conveyed through voice and gestures. The director explained that she wanted to touch dramatic chords because they are typical of adolescence, and that they would allow kids to free themselves from real emotions and feelings. The story of Antigone, condemned to death by the king of Thebes Creon, for having violated the edict and having buried her brother, branded as a traitor to his homeland, has come to life again; with her her reflection on power, intergenerational conflict and a pinch of female emancipation. The acting performance of the young students is truly impressive, like plastic figures in a Frank Miller-style graphic novel.
Lendinara, you are the theatre. The fourth edition of the Tomeo Prize has come to life, the provincial theater competition for groups of children aged 6 to 19, organized by Irene Lissandrin, ViviRovigo and the municipality of Lendinara, in partnership with the multidisciplinary regional circuit Arteven-Mic-Veneto Region, in collaboration with the municipalities of Rovigo, Badia Polesine, Loreo and Taglio di Po, the patronage of the Province of Rovigo and the Rovigo culture Foundation and the main sponsorship of Inox tech Spa.
