Four English ladies, strangers to each other, take a trip to Italy without their husbands. The four travellers have been brought together by an advertisement in The Times.
Their destination is a medieval castle overlooking the sea. They dream of an escape to the Mediterranean and wisteria-draped ancient stone walls: their paradise on earth. The miracle of April in Italy will transform the four women. The beauty of nature, sea and harmony heals their unhappiness. Their relationship changes, reawakening their true natures and the possibility of reconciliation.
Performed by
Betty Andriolo
Linda Bobbo
Paola Brolati
Marta Richeldi
Dramaturgy and Direction
Alberta Toninato
Director’s note
This show was inspired by Elizabeth Von Armin’s novel, The Enchanted April. This adaptation has been faithful to the original narrative and dialogue, where different styles – comic, poetic, dramatic – constantly shift. On stage, theatrical space, physicality, costumes and props become a precise choreography, leading the audience in the harmonious development of the story. In just over an hour, the four ladies experience new places, new scenery, and new feelings, liberated from wet, grey London into the radiance of an April in Italy.
Poetics
This show is part of the company’s development of the Pedagogy of joy. Bottegavaga has worked with these principles for many years. We believe that the search for happiness (or the flourishing of human beings) is the basis for individual health as well as community growth. Our recipe for well-being is theatre which unleashes vital energy and speaks to the heart. A theatre which speaks to the heart by renewing our desire for life and beauty, whether as actors or as audience.
The Company
Marta Richeldi has worked with the most famous Italian directors from Ronconi to Servillo, to Lina Bobbo’s training in street theatre in Barcelona to Paola Brolati’s cabaret performances to Betty Andriolo’s international training to Alberta Toninato’s theatrical practice in Venice. Five Venetian women have collaborated in a project for the first time.
Running time
70 minutes
Technical requirements
Bare stage, minimum 6 x 6 metres
Lighting: 8 lanterns, minimum 1 kw each, with barn doors
Lighting control desk, minimum 2 kw
DMX cables
Programmable console
High-quality sound system with adequate power for the room
One audio mixer, capable of connection to a laptop
Photo @unionfotofederico
