Distinctive Maggie Pollitt Sets Her Apart, Even from Legendary Figures Like Elizabeth Taylor
A Sizzling Saga: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Maggie, a woman with the heart of a lion, is entrenched in a battle of wills, refusing to falter, not even in the face of the scorching heat. She's a force to be reckoned with, a beacon of unyielding tenacity in a world dominated by hypocrisy. "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is a play that invites us to question the artificially imposed expectations within the traditional family structure and the narrow definition of womanhood. According to director Leonardo Lidi, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" exposes the deep chasm between natural progress and the shackles of traditional family values.
This riveting production, featuring a fresh translation by Manica Capuani, graces the stage of Teatro Carignano starting Tuesday, April 29. The performances will run until May 11. The roles, once immortalized by the iconic duo of Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor, will now be brought to life by Fausto Cabra and Valentina Picello.
Valentina, what's the secret to taming a tiger like Maggie?
"Maggie is a woman brimming with determination. She's not about forcing a man to love her; she's repulsed by her past and her humble origins. I see her as a woman with deep emotional intelligence that doesn't translate into opportunism but into a fierce desire to save herself. This desire unites the genuine and the non-hypocritical."
What makes this translation stand out?
"The irony and sarcasm make Maggie a far cry from the melodramatic caricatures many might remember from the screen. The comic tones in the initial phase deliver a satire of all those monstrous reflections that we see, without them becoming our own. The language, rough and crude, immerses us in the arguments between husband and wife in front of the children, without too much finesse."
Is the stage a mirror reflecting our own lives?
"I hope, as Leonardo Lidi suggests, that this text will stir up some reactions from the audience."
What about Tennessee Williams that stirs up such reactions?
"I admire how he shines a light on the pain hidden within families, where secrets are tucked away. That's where you learn about love and relationships. Often, it's the women who speak for the most vulnerable people. Maybe because of some disability, like Laura in 'The Glass Menagerie'. Maggie, too, is imperfect—she hasn't given Brick an heir. But in the end, she'll save him anyway."
- Valentina Picello's portrayal of Maggie in the play, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," differs from traditional caricatures, as she is not depicted as a melodramatic woman, but instead, as a woman with deep emotional intelligence who values her self-preservation over opportunism.
- The translation of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" by Manica Capuani, featuring a rough and crude language, immerses the audience in the arguments between the husband and wife, while also delivering comic tones that offer a satire of the monstrous reflections seen within families.
- Just as Maggie, a character with a determined spirit brimming with a desire to save herself, serves as an example of the genuine and non-hypocritical in the play, Tennessee Williams's works stand out due to his ability to expose the pain hidden within families, where secrets and hypocrisy often reside.
- The stage adaptation of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" invites the audience to question the traditional family structure and artificially imposed expectations, while also shining a light on the struggles and complexities of relationships, much like a mirror reflecting our own lives.
