Public Performance
Pulcinella`s War The Life, Death and Resurrection of Pulcinella, who went to war for love
Event ID: EV009379T
Info: Apr 5 • Sat • 8:00pm • Earle Ernst Lab Theatre • Free, open to the public • Limited seating, available on a first come first serve. For more information call 956-7655.
With: -
ARSCOMICA- Italy presents
PULCINELLA`S WAR: The Life, Death and Resurrection of Pulcinella, who went to war for love
Antonio Fava`s Commedia dell`Arte with Antonio Fava and Merve Engin
War, unfortunately, is a timeless and universal situation experienced by all cultures and peoples - it is also a classic situation for the Commedia dell`Arte. Pulcinella`s War, by Antonio Fava, features Pulcinella and Zazza, two masks, of the oldest and longest lasting comic theatrical tradition still on the boards - the Commedia dell`Arte, with almost five centuries of uninterrupted history.
Pulcinella goes to war to solve his problem of love. For him, war is a refuge, a solution, and a form of suicide. In the beginning of the play, Pulcinella searches for a woman. First, he meets Catherinea, but she is too beautiful; too `high class` for him; and too different from him. Zazza is attractive because she is an unsophisticated girl. But Pulcinella does not want her because she is too similar to him. Pulcinella has some affinity for the third woman he meets, Fosca, but she starts him on the road to disaster-it is because of Fosca that Pulcinella goes to war.
But war comes to an end, and when Pulcinella returns home, defeated, he returns to Zazza, the woman that is naturally his. There is nothing left for them but to thank heaven that they are still alive.
Antonio Fava, a master of Commedia dell`Arte, is recognized throughout the world: the son of a Pulcinella and father of another, he gives life and continuity to the great mask, the most representative of the Commedia dell`Arte.
Merve Engin, a student of Fava`s, comes from Turkey where she appeared at the Bursa Theatre, Theatre Kale and at Hacettepe University. She has made numerous stage appearances at theaters around Ankara.
For details on Workshop in Commedia dell`arte with Antonio Fava on Mar 30 and Apr 5, see http://www.outreach.hawaii.edu/programs/2008/EVENT-S09557.asp.
A University of Hawaii at Manoa Outreach College and Department of Theatre and Dance production with partial funding provided by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education`s Major Initiatives in the Liberal Arts..