CASSANO JONIO – The Theater Season of the City of Cassano Jonio, organized by the municipal administration led by mayor Giovanni Papassoin collaboration with Creativa di Andrea Solanowho is its artistic director, in the name of having fun with Francesco Paolantonia well-known figure in the Italian entertainment world and beyond.
By and with Francesco Paolantoni, who also directed it, on stage in the theater show “O…tello, O…io!” centered on the misadventures of a theater company struggling with the rehearsals of Otello, also Stefano Sarcinelli, Raffaele Esposito, Viola Forestiero, Felicia del Prete and Arduino Speranza.
The Shakespearean drama of jealousy thus becomes a funny comedy within the show. The theatrical performance “O…tello, O…io!” was played by Paolantoni himself as director and then by Otello himself, Stefano Sarcinelli (Jago), Alduino Speranza (prompter), Raffaele Esposito (Cassio), Viola Forestiero (Desdemona), Felicia del Prete (Emilia, Jago’s wife in the service by Desdemona. It was a show that, with a writing inspired by commedia dell’arte, with a fast pace, and with the mechanism of “theater within the theater” told the misadventures of an amateur company intent on rehearsing a show that will debut the next evening.
The text chosen by the director (certain that amateur companies, not having to suffer cuts to culture and entertainment, are the only resource for carrying forward theatre), partly to move away from the classic Edwardian repertoire of amateur companies and partly because he wants to address the theme of jealousy, a feeling that usually tends to ruin relationships is: Othello.
The first act of the show developed between the attempt to rehearse the show, the delirious interpersonal discussions between the various actors, the psychological dissertations on relationships and the desperation for the news that the actor who was supposed to play the protagonist will no longer be coming. , the only solution is that the director himself will have to play Othello without knowing the part.
In the second act, with the stage divided in two, on one side the show in progress and on the other the dressing rooms, the audience present simultaneously witnessed both the merciless staging of Othello (with an inevitable different ending that would never have imagined Shakespeare) than to the strange events the actors faced in the dressing rooms. Each of the protagonists of the show sees in the Theater a sort of redemption for a life that has not given them much or that keeps them prisoners of a role that they cannot tolerate or have never tolerated in their life.
Paolantoni’s show, in addition to being entertaining, also induces reflection, as it offers insights on the theme of jealousy (and Othello is a famous example throughout the world) but also and above all on violence against women. On this hot topic, feminicide, the author places emphasis on the need to find the right solutions, proposing an ending that everyone can agree on. The audience who crowded the Cassano theater in every row of seats very much appreciated the entertaining show, giving Francesco Paolantoni and the other co-protagonist actors thunderous applause.
On the sidelines of the evening, both mayor Papasso and artistic director Solano took a very positive assessment of the theater season, committing to work immediately for the organization of the 2025 season. Satisfied with the results achieved and the quality of the shows also the councilor with responsibility for the Theater Elisa Fasanella.
Tags: Francesco Paolantoni closes theater season Cassano Jonio
