Musical comedy in one act
by Fabrizio Lamberti
Libretto by Mauro Graiani
Commission of the Fondazione Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova
Characters and interpreters:
Bacci
Rosario D’Aniello
Carbunin/Dieguito/Juan/Edmondo de Amicis
Danilo Ramon Giannini
Schiappacasse/Pedro Vasena/Padre Miguel/Banchiere/Poliziotto
Andrea D’Andreagiovanni
Natalina/Maria
Elisa Dal Corso/Laura Repetto (6, 8, 11, 15)
Sacristan
Fabrizio Lamberti
Elder Bacci
Corrado Tedeschi
(extraordinary participation on video)
Concertmaster, conductor and pianist
Fabrizio Lamberti
Direction, sets, costumes and lighting
Mauro Graiani
Zêna Òrchèstra
Zêna
The emigrant’s journey
The opera is the shortened one-act version of the musical comedy Zêna (If I Think Home), inspired by the popular song Ma se ghe penso. The plot follows the story of a young boy from Genoa at the end of the 19th century, who sets off to seek his fortune in Argentina armed only with good hopes and a basil seedling, thanks to which he will succeed. Nevertheless, the protagonist becomes so homesick that he eventually returns to Genova.
The cast of this one-act play includes five singing actors – four of whom alternate in double, triple roles – a quartet of musicians and a video element to portray the older version of the protagonist, the voice and narrator of the whole story.
The narrative focuses on the difficulties of those who escape a life of hardship to renew the fate of their existence but, eventually, having to deal with their own roots. This version of Zêna aims at spreading a wider awareness of the immigration issues among young students.
Thanks to the enjoyable language, as well as both musical and videographic support, the project well serves to introduce young people to theatrical storytelling and to promote theatrical culture in schools.
