A Real Apulian Play

Agostino's Le rrobbe de Zizi production a hit in Canada

The play La rrobbe de Zizi, written by Agostino Galati in the dialect of Bitonto, has won the hearts of the Apulian communities in Toronto and Montréal.
A vast audience crowded the Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts where the play was being performed by the "Attori per caso" company. "We truly are 'Actors by Chance', because in life we hold other jobs," comments Angelo Farella, one of the interpreters. "For instance, I work in a bank, Vito Stallone teaches English, Michele Barone owns an agency."
Even though they have other jobs, their love for theatre is so strong that they decided to go on stage with this hugely successful play. "We started to produce La rrobbe de Zizi, i.e. Uncle's Estate, two years ago; first in Palo del Colle, then in Bitonto," said Vito Stallone. "Considering the favour of the public in our region, we thought it might be a good idea to propose it to the large Apulian community in Canada. We met Franco Ruggiero, the President of Palo del Colle Brotherhood Association, and he helped us through the Apulian Federation."
The support needed to bring to Canada the Attori per caso and their Rrobbe de Zizi wasn't late in coming. "Both in Montréal and Toronto the audience enjoyed themselves, laughed, really appreciated this play so much that they gave us standing ovations," added Stallone, who directs the play and stars as the grandfather. "We're truly happy that this little depiction of Apulian life was so liked."
The play depicts everyday life with its problems, anxieties, dreams and illusions of the common folk of this tiny Apulian town. "In the play, I play Pasquale, the unemployed head of the family, married with Rosina (Angela Bufano), who sews women's briefs, and father of Mary (Raffaella Moretti) who hopes to raise the money needed to marry Tonine (Donato Minerva). The arrival of an uncle from Canada sends the poor family in a frenzy; in order to disguise their poverty, they tell their relative that they live in a villa which is undergoing renovation work, not in the humble abode where he finds them."
The uncle does not bring the gifts they hoped for but useless presents; in order to show him around and hide their true condition, the family fritters away the little money they had put aside for Mary's marriage. "Suddenly, the uncle dies and the family finds out that he left no inheritance," continued Stallone. "However, a box in his baggage turns out to contain the jewels of the late aunt, worth half a million. The finale is grotesque: while the uncle lies in the adjacent room, the family toasts to their sudden richness."
The plot is full of twists, and spectators are treated to a whole range of shades, to characters with human virtues and defects, to the simple values of yesteryear and to the hopes put in this 'Uncle Scrooge' and his fabulous estate.
"The Apulian-Canadian community is so nice, and they came to see our play," added Michele Barone. "We felt the affection, the love for Italy; on the other hand, the two-hour play is also very nice, and rewards the audience."
The Apulian community in Canada struck also Angelo Farella. "I am the son of an emigrant, my father had left town to go to work in Germany," he said. "I wish to thank all Italians abroad who honour Italy all over the world."
In addition to strengthening the bonds between the Old Country and the community abroad, the play is also a way to bring Italian culture outside the borders. "We decided to bring the language and customs of Apulia to the Apulians who live in Canada, confirming them our closeness, because with their work and courage they honoured Italy and Apulia abroad."

Publication Date: 2004-08-08
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=4250