Sold out and applause at the Re Mida theater in Palermo for the brilliant comedy by Bartolomeo Cosenza
Extraordinary success of the brilliant comedy by Bartolomeo Cosenza (known composer from Palermo whose music is performed all over the world) “Mimma and the charming prince”, which for three evenings 27, 28, and 29 January was represented at the Re Mida theater in Palermo, recording a full house. The story, surreal and funny, immediately captured the attention of the public who never stopped laughing. Mimma Cannazza is desperate. What he believed to be the great love of his life, Mr. Nunzio Scimemi (his neighbor) has fled with his lover, the administrator of the building (the one where Mimma lives), Dr. Adalgisa Spicazza, stealing the money intended for management and restoration of the condominium. At the expense are the condominiums and above all the goalkeeper Celeste Sucato, who has been waiting in vain to be paid for months. Celeste accuses Mimma of having known about this love affair for some time and of having kept silent, therefore he considers her an accomplice and responsible for the fraud against the condominium. Mimma, on the other hand, doesn’t seem at all worried about the scam, but she despairs over her lost love. After having consulted a seer, the magician Zorrostro, who sees the coming of a prince charming in Mimma’s immediate future, the desperate woman increasingly develops the idea and desire to find the man of her life, a companion who can satisfy her her strong desire for love.
Mimma’s commare, Miss Clementina Pisciotta, offers to help her friend in the search for the elusive prince charming but, not having the right knowledge, she asks for help from the goalkeeper Celeste Sucato who boasts of knowing many people. In exchange for this courtesy, Clementina promises Celeste a generous reward for the wrongs she has suffered. The terms are clear: Celeste will be paid by Mimma as soon as she has found the charming prince, as foreseen by the seer. Celeste will make Mimma meet three suitors, in chronological order: Anacleto Cannatella, a hypochondriac and micragnous psychopath; Giuseppe Lo Cascio, a (very) elderly deaf person, full of debts and with a passion for the theatre; and finally Nicola Gracchio, neo-melodic singer, crude, foul-mouthed and with alcoholism problems. Who among these will be Mimma’s prince charming? The comedy is a pretext to describe some “monsters” of our modern society. Curious, bizarre, extravagant and eccentric characters, each with its foibles, fixations and follies but all candidates for the role of poor Mimma’s imaginary prince charming.
A journey into the depths of the mind of Homo Panormitanus. A kaleidoscope of emotions, thoughts, ideas and fantasies that generates uncontainable laughter that is never an end in itself, but that makes us reflect and distance ourselves from what we never want to be or become.
The text, as already mentioned, is by Bartolomeo Cosenza, the theatrical adaptation and direction are by Bibi Bianca while the actors are: Meri Reale (Mimma), Daniela Lo Cascio (Clementina), Roberto Mannino (Celeste), Giorgio Barone (Nicola ), Bibi Bianca (Giuseppe) Carlo Muraglia (Anacleto). Given the great success, “Mimma and the charming prince” will be performed again at the Cineteatro Colosseum in Palermo, on Friday 3 February at 20.30. On this occasion the event will be sponsored by Lions Clubs International.
“Mimma and Prince Charming”, a journey into the depths of the mind of Homo Panormitanus