Turin chronicles: Braunschweig e Leonardo Lidi

Abstract

A long review of two shows produced in 2024 by the Teatro Stabile of Turin, La vita che ti diedi by Pirandello, staged by the French director Stéphane Braunschweig, and Medea by Euripide, directed by Leonardo Lidi, young director of the Teatro Stabile of Turin. The French director is one of the few, if not the only one, still alive and active, of the great tradition of metteurs en scène who was responsible for the foundation of direction in late twentieth century Europe, from Strehler to Ronconi. Author of wonderful Ibsenian shows and also of some successful Pirandellian creations. This last attempt, however, was less successful, partly due to the weakness of the text by the Sicilian playwright, very cerebral and didactic, but also partly due to the limitations of a cast that was not always able to translate the indications of a director interested in combining the text in the Pirandellian vein of the so-called theatre within the theatre. The scenographic structure of Medea is very interesting and provocative, but less convincing is the drastic rewriting of the text, especially in the final part, and the somewhat gratuitous shift of the interpretative axis to a mere love tragedy, also entrusted to two character actors of considerable value, but employed in primary roles that do not enhance their professional qualities.