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A Poetic Journey Through Dante's Divine Comedy (Benigni performs his show in English until the very last when he recites the fifth chapter by heart in Italian)
Davies Symphony Hall - San Francisco
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 8:00 PM
Members of the following groups can receive a discount by calling - 415-392-4400
-Italian Cultural Institute San Francisco
-San Francisco Film Society
-Italian Film Festival
-Museo ItaloAmericano
-SF Italian Language Meet-up Group
-Groups of 10 or more persons can also receive a discount by calling 415-392-4400
ROBERTO BENIGNI IS SET TO MAKE HIS NORTH AMERICAN STAGE DEBUT WITH THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ONE MAN SHOW--TUTTODANTE
Academy Award-winner for Best Actor in 1999 for Life is Beautiful (and nominee for Best Writer and Best Director), ROBERTO BENIGNI is making his US stage debut at the Davies Symphony Hall on May 26 in San Francisco with his one-man show “TuttoDante.” The show is Roberto’s unique creation, a fascinating voyage that extends from current events (cultural and political) to the Divine Comedy, from moments of pure humor to moments of breathtaking poetry--in particular Canto V° from The Inferno, Dante’s cosmos-bestriding, medieval epic of sin, salvation and the everlasting.
Benigni has been perfecting his one-man show in his native Italy for the past 3 years in front of more than one million passionate fans and most recently to a sold-out crowd in London.
The Canto V describes the familiar and tragic love story between Paolo and Francesca, condemned for the sin of lust to pass eternity on the first of the descending rings of hell. Benigni illustrates the story as only he can—first as the familiar rascal running about the stage, becoming the earnest student, kindly professor and ultimately, the tragic actor performing the verse of Dante Alighieri, father of Italian literature and unsurpassed hero of the Tuscan-born comic.
“TuttoDante” has received rave reviews all across Italy, as well as in England for his recent London performance.
“Benigni has long been a national hero in Italy,” notes the UK’s Telegraph. “Climbing over the seats to collect his Oscar for the 1997 tragicomedy La Vita è Bella (Life is Beautiful) was only the most conspicuous of his acts of iconoclasm. Since the 1970s he has been adored as a satirist of Italy’s politicians. But, over the past three years, he has added to his hero status through his touring show dedicated to Italy’s medieval literary giant, Dante Alighieri, author of the Divine Comedy…By the time he reached the final section—a recitation of the poem itself…He recited the words so animatedly, but with such reverence for the 11 syllable lines, that it was like listening to great music. Millions of Italians have so far risen to their feet to cheer at the end of this show; this evening was no exception.”
“By the time it came to the Divine Comedy’s Fifth Canto…There was pin-drop silence as Benigni switched from passionate…to controlled, near operatic delivery. Even for fans with minimal grasp of Italian the beauty of the poetry was apparent.” Evening Standard
Of the Italian show, critics declared:
“Benigni has been able to enchant…the audience, leaving it in ecstasy, speechless, perhaps, surprised by such emotion.” La Repubblica
“Climbing through the ages, he miraculously combines yesterday with today, current events with poetry, anger with laughter.” Corriere della Sera
“A small miracle, considering the amount of people Benigni has brought to the Divine Comedy.” Variety (US edition)
And, judging from the sold-out box offices for every stage on the tour, from the long applause and standing ovations that conclude each evening, “a small miracle” may have actually occurred, as Roberto Benigni says, “The poetry is not only in who writes, but especially in the ear of whom listens.”
“TuttoDante” is a majestic life-affirming evening performed in English except for Benigni’s recitation of the Fifth Canto by heart in the original medieval Italian.
Tues. May 26 San Francisco, CA
Davis Symphony Hall
Sat./Sun. May 30 & 31 New York, NY
Manhattan Center
Hammerstein Ballroom Tues./Wed. June 2 & 3 Montreal, Quebec, Canada St. Denise Theatre
Sat. June 6 Boston, MA
Berklee Performance Center
Sun. June 7 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Casino Rama
Fri. June 12 Chicago, IL
Harris Theatre