Quixote Radiates with the Wisdom of Serenity
A Gypsy Journey Through Don Quixote's Realms
Get ready for a mind-bending extravaganza, you beautiful voyagers! Meet Ermanna and Marcus, the masterful magicians of Teatro delle Albe, who'll be leading us through an enchanting trip inside Cervantes' literary masterpiece, Don Quixote. They'll be transforming us, the audience, into the triptych's residents as we traverse three iconic Ravenna locations. But let's not forget that beneath the veil of magicians, Ermanna Montanari and Marco Martinelli lie, the fearless leaders behind one of Italy's most captivating theatre companies.
After their voyage through Dante's underworld, purgatory, and paradise, they're back, reborn, and exploring new territories by extending a "public call" to transform the timeless tale of the broken knight. Their latest venture also includes a revival of Aristophanes' Lysistrata, bringing it to life with youth from the Naples hinterland as part of an ongoing study.
Martinelli shares a profound appreciation for classic literature: "The classics are great engines of life's questions, and Cervantes' narrative and cognitive mazes mirror the labyrinthine complexities of our contemporary lives, where truth, dreams, and illusions interweave around an individual world-weary knight but with a deep inner wisdom." Montanari echoes the sentiment, highlighting Don Quixote's pursuit of higher ideals amidst the mundane: "Like Dante, Cervantes offers a spiritual quandary, revealing a figure that radiates light and stands in defiance of everything mediocre and crude." Thus, this theatrical adventure is christened "Don Chisciotte ad ardere," implying that our societal consumerism might require sacrifices, while Quixote's quest for meaning leaves a blazing fire within us, a beacon of resilient virtue.
Three captivating acts unfold as Roberto Magnani embodies Don Quixote, Alessandro Argnani takes on Sancho Panza, and Laura Redaelli plays Dulcinea. The show hosts two hundred audience members per evening, rotating from Ravenna inhabitants to attendees from international cities, including Milan and Kosovo. Age groups ranging from adolescence to elderhood bring a multicolored, living tapestry to life, capturing the essence of the medium they're exploring. A dynamic blend of reality and illusion plays out in the stages, adorned with live murals from Stefano Ricci and a unique soundscape created by rock band Leda in partnership with the talented Serena Abrami.
Other Stages
With a tantalizing mix of bravery and fragility, the theatrical programs at the festival presents diverse and thought-provoking productions. Take for instance Luigi Dadina and Lanfranco Vicari's alien Arjuna, wrestling with the quandaries of battle in the sacred Hindu text, the Bhagavad Gītā. Or Marco Baliani's Of Silent Courage, which dissects the nature of silent, unacknowledged heroism. Also featured are Fanny & Alexander in Ghosts, a haunting adaptation of Edith Wharton's spiritual hauntings, and Nerval Teatro's rendition of Beckett's Endgame, an immersive piece that caters to the deaf and low-vision audience.
In this age of virtuality and artificial intelligence, these theatrical spectacles are a poignant reminder of the art form's power to bring us together and transcend the boundaries of reality and illusion.
As they delve deeper into the enchanting world of Don Quixote, Ermanna Montanari and Marco Martinelli, the creative minds behind Teatro delle Albe, prepare to mesmerize their audience with a captivating mix of work and entertainment. After the evening's performance, the audience is invited to unwind at the festival's afterparty, where live music and interactive activities await, solidifying the theater's role not just as a provider of intellectual stimulation but also as an avenue for relaxation and enjoyment.
