The French Institute of Naples presented a lively adaptation of mid-17th-century French playwright Evaristo Gherardi's comedy, whose title can roughly be translated as The Misfits. The characters seem to be midway between the traditional commedia dell'arte stock types, with mostly improvised dialogue, and the lighter and more structured comedies of the next century. Cast with local actors -- all with excellent French -- the overall tone is less elegant and earthier than American audiences might be accustomed to.
The Harlequin (Gustavo LaVolpe) and Colombine (Alida Tarallo), in particular, project unrefined and rugged but never vulgar characters. The plot line is a series of gags regarding inappropriate or unwanted couplings, culminating in a final union for all pairs. Along the way there are many laughs, including a scene in which each of three characters realizes he can discard French and speak directly in local Neapolitan dialect.
Director Franco Pero emphasizes clarity so that even without understanding all the text, the relationships and situations are unambiguous. Niko Mucci uses changing colors for backlighting to enliven Mr. Pero's simple set. The enthusiastic audience gave a warm reception to the production and the actors.
