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Original title: "Etruschi!", by Andrea Jeva English transalation by Gregory Conti, Copyright 2005, by S.I.A.E. Societa' Italiana Autori ed Editori.
The playwright asks to be informed of any production of this work by e-mail (N.B. Remove the name of the animal from the address)
- Classification:
- Tragicomedy.
- Rating:
- G
- Synopsys:
- "Etruscans!" written in 2005.
"Maro is a time-traveler with a mission: to save his fellow Etruscans and their
culture from being totally absorbed by the globalizing Roman Empire. For him, the
year is 217 B.C. and we are in Etruria - near Lake Trasimeno, the site of Hannibal's
last victory over the Romans. But for Gianni and Elisa, volunteers in a
psychiatric hospital not far from Assisi, and Jocelyn, a psychiatric researcher
from U. Cal Berkeley, Maro is a mental patient steeped in Etruscan ritual and
folklore, who also has a strangely unquenchable thirst for Coca Cola. Or is he?
When the four of them are joined by Serrano, Maro's fellow Etruscan, who staggers
onto the scene having just been wounded in the fight against Hannibal, our
contemporary guardians of society's mental health begin to have their doubts.
Its ingenious superimposition of historical epochs and the clash of cultures that
results, infuses "Etruscans!" with well-exploited comic opportunities while
offering plenty of food for thought about contemporary threats to cultural
diversity. Maro's struggle for the cultural survival of his people is doomed to
failure. The fast-paced, absurdist dialogues he has with his three modern
care-givers are meant to provoke tears as well as laughter, and finally reflection
on what the story of the Etruscans may teach us about the world today.
- Cast:
- MARO - an elderly mental patient. His anomalous behavior is due to his belief that he is Etruscan.
GIANNI - 21 years old or so. A native of Rome. He's a conscientious objector assigned to the mental hospital
to do alternative civil service. He assists Maro and he also plays "Regolo, Marco Attilio" Consul of Rome. In
the original Italian he speaks with a marked modern Roman accent, but in English it's not so much as accent
as the would-be self-assured, sometimes sarcastic tone of those born and raised in the capital of the empire,
be it Rome, New York, or London.
ELISA - about 25 years old. Hospital volunteer and actress. She assists Maro.
JOSLYNN - about 50. American. Psychiatrist. Speaks with the anachronistic wild-eyed enthusiasm of an ex-flower
child. Also plays "Culni", Etruscan woman, sister of Serrano.
SERRANO - about 40. Etruscan. A ghost evoked by Maro. Dressed as a Roman legionnaire..
- Lenght:
- 90 min.
- Rewiews:
- No Rewiews available.
- Notes:
- Other scripts are available, at the moment in Italian version, please contact the playwright.
- Contacting the playwright:
- The playwright may be contacted through S.I.A.E. or by e-mail (N.B. Remove the name of the animal from the address)
- The playwright asks to be informed of any production of this work.
- Requirements:
- "Etruscans!" is protected under copyright laws. All rights reserved. Performance or publication of "Etruscans!" is subject to a royalty. Inquiries concerning rights should be addressed to:
S.I.A.E.
Sezione D.O.R.
Viale della Letteratura, 30
00144 Roma - Italy
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