Coppia aperta, quasi spalancata

Cancelled Event
A perfect theatrical work, fantastic comical timing and a continuous dialogue between the stage and the audience in this masterpiece by Fo and Rame: forty years on from the publication of this work, with almost four decades of “evolution of customs” behind it, have things really changed?

9 - 20 December 2020

Teatro Grassi

It was in 1982 when Dario Fo and Franca Rame wrote and performed Coppia aperta, quasi spalancata, in a period in which Italy, in the wake of the late-sixties protests, the referenda for the legalisation of abortion and divorce, the nullification of the crime of adultery and the measures related to “honour killings”, Italy tried to explore new territories, even contemplating the possibility of “open couples”, a free relationship that is not restricted by monogamy... unfortunately, as the play explains, “the first rule of a successful open couple is that it is open for the man only! If an open couple is open on both sides, it gets draughty!”.
Even if times have changed, Italy is still the same as it always has been; a country in which repression and male chauvinism are not so easy to banish, and civil progress needs to constantly be defended against the emotional, cultural and affective backwardness of men who fill the news with episodes of violence. A contemporary staging of this play is not only a homage to Franca Rame, an extraordinary woman who paid dearly for her beliefs, but also to her intelligence and her talent.
The role originally played by Franca is now performed by Alessandra Faiella, one of the queens of “comedy that makes you think”, who had the fortune of beginning her career by working with Fo and Rame, and she is accompanied by Valerio Bongiorno, an actor with extensive experience in comic theatre. Renato Sarti’s directing highlights how perfectly this theatrical piece is synchronised, which calls on the involvement of the audience and which, through a continuous flow of rapid dialogue, almost paradoxical situations and tragically comic twists, examines the emotional dynamics of couples past and present.

Duration: 65’ without interval

It was in 1982 when Dario Fo and Franca Rame wrote and performed Coppia aperta, quasi spalancata, in a period in which Italy, in the wake of the late-sixties protests, the referenda for the legalisation of abortion and divorce, the nullification of the crime of adultery and the measures related to “honour killings”, Italy tried to explore new territories, even contemplating the possibility of “open couples”, a free relationship that is not restricted by monogamy... unfortunately, as the play explains, “the first rule of a successful open couple is that it is open for the man only! If an open couple is open on both sides, it gets draughty!”.
Even if times have changed, Italy is still the same as it always has been; a country in which repression and male chauvinism are not so easy to banish, and civil progress needs to constantly be defended against the emotional, cultural and affective backwardness of men who fill the news with episodes of violence. A contemporary staging of this play is not only a homage to Franca Rame, an extraordinary woman who paid dearly for her beliefs, but also to her intelligence and her talent.
The role originally played by Franca is now performed by Alessandra Faiella, one of the queens of “comedy that makes you think”, who had the fortune of beginning her career by working with Fo and Rame, and she is accompanied by Valerio Bongiorno, an actor with extensive experience in comic theatre. Renato Sarti’s directing highlights how perfectly this theatrical piece is synchronised, which calls on the involvement of the audience and which, through a continuous flow of rapid dialogue, almost paradoxical situations and tragically comic twists, examines the emotional dynamics of couples past and present.

Duration: 65’ without interval

Marina Alessi
Marina Alessi

Credits

Piccolo Teatro Grassi
From 9 to 20 December 2020
Coppia aperta, quasi spalancata
by Dario Fo and Franca Rame
directed by Renato Sarti
sets and costumes Carlo Sala
music Carlo Boccadoro
light design Luca Grimaldi
with Alessandra Faiella and Valerio Bongiorno
a Teatro della Cooperativa production

Stalls: Full price € 33
Balcony: Full price € 26

Where and when to purchase tickets
It is possible to purchase tickets for programmed performances taking place from September to December and use vouchers as payment.
No subscriptions schemes are available for the aforementioned performances.

piccoloteatro.org
It is possible to purchase full-price and discounted tickets online. Tickets for all productions for the current season can be purchased up to one hour before the beginning of scheduled performances. Purchased tickets are sent by email at the moment of purchase and are available on the user’s personal profile. Tickets can be purchased with either credit card.

Box office line +39 02.42.411.889
From Monday to Saturday from 9.45 a.m.to 6.45 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In the event of performances on bank holidays, the service is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
It is possible to purchase full-price or discounted tickets (for under -26 and over -65).
Purchased tickets are sent by email.
Access to the auditorium with reduced-price tickets is subject to verification by the theatre personnel.
Payment can be made by credit card (with the exception of American Express).

Piccolo Teatro Strehler box office
The Teatro Strehler box office (L. go Greppi, 1 – Metro M2 station Lanza) observes the following opening hours: from Monday to Saturday 9.45 a.m. to 6.45 p.m.; Sundays 1 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.; closed on Sundays and bank holidays.
It is possible to purchase full-price or discounted tickets (for under -26 and over -65). Access to the auditorium with reduced-price tickets is subject to verification by the theatre personnel.
For the final hour before the beginning of a performance, the box office is available exclusively for the production that is due to begin.

Teatro Grassi and Teatro Studio Melato box offices
The Teatro Grassi and Teatro Studio Melato box offices are open solely on the day of performances for one hour before the beginning of the programmed performance.

For artistic reasons, access to the auditorium is not permitted once the performance has started. You may take your seat during any intervals.
Purchased tickets cannot be cancelled or substituted or be used for dates or times which differ from those indicated.

Safety measures for access to performances

• In order to avoid queues and crowing, spectators are invited to arrive at the place of performance in good time.

• It is possible to access the auditorium by showing your ticket directly from your smartphone.

• Spectators with a body temperature equal to or higher than 37.5°C will not be allowed access to the performance and will have the right to a refund for their ticket. The personnel at the entrance will have dedicated thermal scanners for measuring temperature.

• All spectators must wear face masks (general regulations apply for children) and sanitise their hands via the dedicated dispensers. Spectators without masks can ask for one at the entrance.

• The seating in the auditorium respects current distancing regulations.

For information on tickets and the use of vouchers for organised groups, please contact the Office for Public Promotion and Cultural Proposals on +39 02 72 333 216 email: promozione.pubblico@piccoloteatromilano.it