"Kathakali is an artistic form of expression and comes under the ritualistic forms of theatre. It is a pity that it is not so well known in Europe," says Carlo Boso.
A chance witnessing of a Kathakali performance bowled over leading Italian theatre group's director Carlo Boso, who now wants to learn more about the Indian dance form and integrate it in his plays.
"Kathakali is an artistic form of expression and comes under the ritualistic forms of theatre. It is a pity that it is not so well known in Europe," says Boso who brought the popular Italian comedy theatre 'Commedia dell' Arte' to the national capital recently.
Directo Boso, whose theatre company 'Il Carro Dei Comci' staged an enactment of Shakespeare's play "Merchant of Venice" here says the first time he saw Kathakali was during a festival in Paris.
"I am returning to India next year and hope to spend time here and learn more about the country's theatre. In Europe Indian theatrical forms are not known," Boso speaking in Italian told PTI through an interpretor. The 90-minute play, "Mori de Venezia," staged for the first time in India comprise an ensemble of six actors who wear masks characteristic to the role they play.
The cast uses performance techniques like dance,songs, acrobatics and fencing to engage the audience at the event organised by the Embassy of Italy and the Italian Cultural Centre.
"The play first staged in 2007 has been shown in France, Poland, Spain, Iran and parts of Europe. Though the language is Italian I don't think audience had trouble understanding because of a lot of mime and action," says Boso.
"Even in Italy there are different accents for the entire country and it is difficult for actors from region to understand the themes and accents of those from other regions," says the director.
The 63-year-old director, has contributed to the growth of the 15th century theatre of comedy. It is said to form the basis of all modern comedies in the world, especially slapstick.
"The form theatre was born in Spain but its real development took place in Italy. The aim of the plays is to make the audience laugh and ponder over the social problems faced by people in the form of a satire, " says Boso.
He adds, "Every mask represents a social figure in the class system so that everyone can easily identify the role and background of every masked character."
Commenting on the state of contemporary theatre, Boso says, "As of today there is a crisis in Italy's institutional theatre. There is a generational divide where younger generation feels that the older actors are unwilling to give them space."
Younger artists are improvising by performing in city squares and other spaces using their creativity to explore contemporay themes in genres like the "Commedia dell' Arte."
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