“This extraordinary show, represented in an equally extraordinary place like the Alcantara Gorges, attracts many people of culture and this, certainly, helps us to showcase the naturalistic and cultural characteristics of the area”.
This was said by Carmelo Calabrò, president of the Alcantara River Park, speaking of the added value that theHell of Dante – produced by Buongiorno Sicilia with the dramaturgy and direction of Giovanni Anfuso – manages to spread over the area. For example, with the recent visit of Paolo Patanè, director of the Coordination of UNESCO Sicily Municipalities.
“It is on these peculiar characteristics – added Calabrò – that we at the Park want to invest, making tourists aware of the places and cultural riches to ensure that our area is recognized as a connecting axis between Taormina and Etna”.
Hell has, throughout the summer, garnered acclaim from the public by recording continuous records sold outso much so that only tickets from the Gorge box office are now available, which can be booked via Whatsapp.
The images of Santo Consoli, stage photographer since 2019 of the shows in the Alcantara Gorges, also contributed to the success this time.
“I have seen several editions – he said – but the innovations introduced this year, not only from a dramaturgical point of view, were greatly appreciated. I am talking about the choreography, but above all the lights, which allowed me to photograph differently compared to previous years. For my part, I tried to change some points of view, studying new shots and the result seems to have been appreciable. But what gives us emotions is above all working in an absolutely magnificent naturalistic context”.
Hell continues to be the most seen outdoor theater work in Sicily in recent years, and accumulates record after record, including personal ones, such as that achieved by Giovanna Mangiù.
“I would never have thought – said the actress – that playing Francesca da Rimini would be a journey lasting more than four hundred performances. And it’s incredible how, every evening, Dante’s words manage to excite me and make me discover something new about this character every time. Which is not just a woman in love but something deeper. Perhaps, Dante, inHelltells us what the origin of true love is”.
A show, Hellwhich also tells personal stories of great human depth. Like that of Salvo Piro, who plays Virgil.
“Two years ago – said the actor – I had to abandon this production due to health problems. And after being stuck in a sort of limbo, I found this Virgil who welcomed me with open arms telling me ‘it’s time to be reborn’”.
“In the show – added Piro – Virgil’s opening line to Dante is ‘But why do you return to such boredom? Why don’t you climb the delightful mountain which is the beginning and cause of all joy?’. Here, my Virgil, who then concludes with the phrase ‘And the night rises again’, this year speaks… of rebirth”.
As has been underlined several times, one of the most appreciated innovations of this edition were the choreographies of Fia Distefano who, as underlined by Lucio Rapisarda – the youngest of the Damned group, but also a veteran of the show, “according to the comments of the public, had a much stronger impact on the spectators than in the past, transmitting them a strong energy, a charge, raising the level of the show”.
Even in the last reruns, there was great applause for the actors and the damned. Among the former, in addition to those already mentioned, we should mention Liliana Randi (tourist), Davide Sbrogiò (Count Ugolino), Ivan Giambirtone (Ulysses), Luigi Nicotra (Dante), William Caruso (Farinata), Federico Fiorenza (Charonte), Davide Pandolfo (Ciacco) and Peter Passalacqua (Paolo Malatesta, Diomede and archbishop Ruggeri). Among the performers of the infernal choir, in addition to Lucio Rapisarda, we must mention Chiara Di Giovanni, Giulia De Marzi, Alessia Linguaglossa, Marta Marino, Gaia Palmeri, Francesco Rotatore, Emiliano Sgroi, Gloria Trischitta and Federica Zuccarello.
Appreciations from the spectators, then, for the costumes by Riccardo Cappello, the scenic elements by Silver Ruggeri and the lights by Davide La Colla. Finally, worth mentioning are the assistant directors: Micaela De Grandi, Valentina Ferrante, Davide Pandolfo and Lucia Rotondo.