Emma Dante has based this comic and grotesque play on a novella by Basile. Two decrepit sisters – Carmine Maringola and Salvatore D’Onofrio – are disconcerted by the advances of a king who has fallen in love with the voice of one of the two. In harsh, fierce, but entirely understandable Neapolitan, the story leads to the cruel outcome of this quest for eternal youth.


freely based on Lo Cunto de li Cunti
by Giambattista Basile
play and direction Emma Dante
Festival of Spoleto 60, Teatro Biondo of Palermo
in collaboration with Atto Unico / Compagnia Sud Costa Occidentale