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Lust, Lies, and Marriage
Il Pozzo Dei Furbi
Directed and conceived by Antonio Fava
Produced by Piccolo Theatre
At the Evanston Art Depot
600 Main Street
Evanston, IL
Call 847-424-0089, tickets are $15 students, $20 seniors, $25
Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 3pm
Running time is 2 hours, 10 minutes with intermission
Through May 10, 2008
Classic Commedia dell’Arte Italian farce produces belly laughs
Kudos to Piccolo Theatre for bringing master Commedia dell’Arte artist/director Antonio Fava in to develop a world premiere theatrical event—Lust, Lies, and Marriage. Fava has put his cast through a rigorous rehearsal process teaching each player the techniques associated with the 500 year old Italian art form of commedia dell’Art. The result is a wonderfully funny night at the theatre.
All the classic Commedia dell’Arte stock characters are present and one of the 176 scripts found in 1896 is used here. The production uses live original music, masks and sound effects (all designed by Antonio Fava). This production has all cast members either on stage or sitting stage left or stage right producing sound effects or playing instruments or singing.
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In the story, Dottore (Amy Gorelow) tells his daughter she’ll marry Lelio when she really wants to marry the handsome Orazio (David Kelch). Celia (Karen Yates) also falls in love with Orazio while another gentleman Odoardo falls in love with her. The servants, a thief, a lustful innkeeper, and greedy fathers plus several folks in disguise and you have the elements of a true Italian farce. This funny show is strong on commedia Dell’Arte technique from the leather masks to the funny prate falls to the wacky walk, word play, zany sound effects with slap-sticks. Lust, Lies, and Marriage is a cleverly accurate display of the art of 16th Century Italian theatre.
The ensemble features Sam Woottten, Amy Gorelow, David Kelch, Denita Linnertz, Ryan Musil, Deborah Proud, Ken Raabe, John Szostek, Karen Yates and Leeann Zahrt. This versatile crew mixed physical comedy with over-the-top characterizations and sound effects to tell the story and garner many laughs. If you have never seen a pure Commedia Dell’Arts Italian farce, get to the Evanston Arts Depot to see Lust, Lies, and Marriage. This show will intrigue you and make you laugh. I enjoyed the stage craft of the players. This is a marvelously authentic production of a rarely seen art form.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date reviewed: April 4, 2008
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