Vivat, "King of Naples" Eduardo de Filippo

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

A contemporary of the 20th century, the world-famous playwright, a favorite of the Neapolitans, who was close and dear to them, is Eduardo de Filippo. His dramaturgy is close to both Italians and all ordinary people of the world, because he described their life, drew ideas from the unique color of Naples. The humanism and philanthropy of creations put the "King of Naples" in the forefront of theatrical figures as a playwright, director and actor.

Becoming a playwright

The illegitimate son of the theater costume designer Luis de Filippo and the famous Eduardo Scarpetta was born on May 24, the first year of the 20th century. With his brother Pepino and sister Titina, he spent his childhood on the stage of the theater. From the age of four, Eduardo enters the stages of Naples with his father, absorbing his skills, ability to communicate and lead the troupe. The theater did not become his life, he was it.

He didn’t really study anywhere, his school was and remained the theater all his life andbeloved Naples. At fourteen, he enters into a contract with his half-brother Vincenzo. The dream of Eduarto, Titina and Pepino of their own temple of Melpomene will only come true in 1931, when they open the Humorous Theater de Filippo.

Young playwright

By this time, de Filippo's luggage will contain a few farcical plays, one-act plays for variety shows and a rich experience of communicating with simple Neapolitans. The theater successfully staged the plays of the brothers and Titina, as well as other Neapolitan authors. Together they worked for thirteen years, and then Pepino opened his own theater, and Eduardo and his sister went their own way. In 1945, the Teatro Eduardo appears. For his sister, he painted the best female image of the unforgettable Filumena Marturano.

The heyday of dramaturgy

De Filippo is a famous actor, he is called the last Neapolitan great actor-author. His directing work is very interesting. But the main thing in his work is dramaturgy, and this heritage is the most valuable and determines the individuality of Eduardo as an actor and director.

Naples, spread out at the foot of Vesuvius, according to the hero of our story, seemed to him a theatrical scene. Here, among the narrow streets and in cramped cafes, the heroes of Eduardo de Filippo lived and worked. His plays are permeated with the atmosphere of sunny Italy, everyday problems of the Neapolitans, little sorrows and joys.

Eduardo's Hits

Eduardo's significant success was the play "Naples - the City of Millionaires", staged at the San Carlo Theatre. The success of the play as a whole andEduardo, with Titina in particular (they starred) was stunning. From that time on, when they talked about Eduardo in Naples, everyone knew that it was De Filippo.

The play "Risk" by Eduardo de Filippo tells the story of an unhappy wife who endlessly tries to shoot a rude and cruel wife, but she comes to life tender and loving. Of course, not for long. And everything repeats.

The most famous work of Eduardo de Filippo - "Filumena Marturano" - has been repeatedly filmed. The film by Vittorio de Sica "Love in Italian" with Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni in the lead roles, of course, is about love in Naples. And today it looks in one breath, relevant and makes you think a lot.

Eduardo de Filippo's play "The Cylinder" is very interesting. The cunning move of two married couples, designed to pay off their debts, suddenly turns into a bizarre interweaving of passions and destinies. And all this under the unique noise of Naples and superbly choreographed dialogues.

The author's favorite play, to which he repeatedly returns, is "The Man and the Gentleman". Eduardo de Filippo directed it in 1933 and played the title role in it. But even later he returned to the production, finding new facets of the image of a person’s fall and his willpower to rise. The author himself believed that this work reflects the entire history of mankind.

Eduardo de Filippo wrote more than 55 theatrical plays. The most famous: "Filumena Marturano", "Cylinder", "Risk", "Mayor of the Sanita District","Ghosts", "The Man and the Gentleman". In addition to performances, film adaptations are also known under the direction of both Eduardo himself and other directors (Dino Risi "Ghosts", Vittorio de Sica "Italian Marriage").

Comedies are full of psychologism of ordinary ordinary people of Naples. They are imbued with the spirit of the square theater with buffoonery and improvisations. They have tragedy, farce, drama. Their world is colorful and theatrical. In the center is always the main character, who is both a comic character and an ordinary living person. It is close to the author and written as if from him.

Private

Eduardo married three times. With his first wife, Dorothy Pennington, the marriage was annulled. The second - Thea Prandi - bore him two children. My daughter tragically died at the age of ten from a rupture of cerebral vessels. The tragedy was hard for him, and this led to a divorce. Luke's son followed in his father's footsteps. His father handed over the leadership of his theater to him. The third wife - Isabella Quarantotti - outlived Eduardo.

Recent years

The playwright loved life and youth. Until the very end of his journey, he paid attention to work on television, staged and filmed his plays, comedies of earlier authors. For young talents, he created the Florentine school for dramatists and a drama studio in Rome. Son Luka from his second marriage took over the art of his father and continued his work in the theater.

Legacy

His merits were appreciated: in Italy he has been a senator for life since 1981. He has many awards both at home and abroad.

The great playwright died in 1984 and is buried inRome. Of the 84 years he lived, he devoted 78 to theater and more than forty to cinema. Favorite of Naples, "King Eduardo" - he was and remains a theater man.

If you suddenly want to hear the noise of the Neapolitan streets and feel the aroma of coffee prepared with love by Filumena, open any play by Eduardo de Filippo or watch the film adaptation of his plays.