Italians piled into the Berklee Performance Center on Saturday to listen to Roberto Benigni's one-man show, TuttoDante. Everyone seemed to know each other and I wouldn't have been too surprised if Benigni knew a few people in the audience as well (Italians like to stick together).
As usual, Benigni bounced onto the stage with seemingly boundless energy and true excitement that was as contagious as the swine flu.
"I feel like to undress and jump over [into the audience]...and lick everyone, not together, but each one of you individually," Benigni exclaimed.
Yes, I have to admit as a disclaimer, I think Benigni is great. He's hard not to love. He has (seemingly anyway) innocence of a child, passion of a true Italian, and the insight of a philospher. I love many things Italian, but I am also easily bored and I have to say, Benigni was the furthest thing from boring. However, if you are not Italian, know nothing about Berlusconi, Dante Alighieri (a famous Italian poet of the Middle Ages), or poetry, you might not be as entertained as I was. My husband fits all the previously described criteria and spent much of his time planning out how to fit in the bike portion of his triathlon training this week.
If you are even slightly enthralled by Dante or poetry, however, you should see this show. Benigni had the audience doubled-over in laughter as he was cracking on politicians like Berlusconi and his many indiscretions, as well as multiple scandals hitting the Italian headlines of late (including Berlusconi's illicit affair with an 18-year-old girl), and local funnies like America's concept of coffee. His analysis of Dante's fifth canto and the recitation at the end, combined with the comedic elements and stand-up during the first part of the show, created a well-balanced and extremely entertaining show.
Performing the show for only the second time in English, Benigni's accent added much to the hilarity of the first part of the show which was pretty much a stand-up act. There is just something about hearing Benigni say "cheap sluts," with his authentic Italian-accented English that left us all in tears. The second part of the show went through a line-by-line analysis/lecture on Dante's quinto canto of Inferno from La Divina Commedia, the fifth chapter of Hell, from the book The Divine Comedy.
Benigni was full of passion and comedic moments as he lectured on the importance of the book as well as the canto, which describes the first ring of hell -- where lustful sinners land after their deaths. He also lectured on the importance of Dante, Italy's contributions to classic and modern culture, and how important poetry and imagination is for society and one's soul, as well as one's mind.
The line-by-line analysis was thoughtful and incorporated parables from the Bible as well as insights into Jesus Christ's life. If only Benigni had been the professor at my undergrad who had taught me Dante's Divine Comedy, I would have never put the book down or gotten bored. He was incredibly captivating, incredibly insightful, and a great performer.
The last part of the show, he recited the entire canto in Dante's original words, I can't really bring myself to call it Italian much in the same way you wouldn't necessarily call Shakespearean English just "English." Benigni was so involved in the memorized piece of literature that he looked as if would cry at any moment describing Francesca and Paolo's plight.
He received a standing ovation that carried on for a good three to five minutes, and one in which I think he greatly deserved. If I had the chance to see him again, I would.
É stato un grande piacere!
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