Posted on: May 14, 2009 Posted by: anfnewsacct Comments: 1

Two-time Academy Award-winner (1999) for Best Actor and Best Foreign Film and nominee for Best Director and Best Writer, for Life is Beautiful 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.” Roberto’s unique creation is a fascinating journey that extends from current and daily events to the Divine Comedy. From moments of pure humor to moments of breathtaking poetry–in particular Canto V° from The Inferno, Dante’s medieval, cosmos-bestriding epic of sin, salvation and eternity.

Benigni has been perfecting his one-man show in his native Italy for the past 3 years, where more than one million passionate fans cheered in delight. Now, after spectacular appearances to sold out theatres in Paris and London, Benigni performs his show in English, peppered with Italian and for the finale, he will recite the Fifth Canto in its original medieval Italian.

The Canto V° describes the 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.

“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 two 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” starring Roberto Benigni is a majestic life-affirming evening performed in English, peppered with Italian, while the finale of the Fifth Canto will be in Italian.

DATE CITY/STATE VENUE

Tues. May 26 San Francisco, CA Davies Symphony Hall

Sat. May 30 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

Wed. June 10 Quebec City, Canada Gran Theatre de Quebec

Fri. June 12 Chicago, IL Harris Theatre

1 people reacted on this

  1. I am so sorry to say this was one of the worst shows I have ever been to. I love Roberto as an actor but in this venue, he was so difficult to understand, it was painful to watch, had to walk out.

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