Insults, exchanges of threats, misunderstandings, irony and clownish scenes: Plautus's Anfitrione is a tragicomedy, as the author himself defines it, which narrates the perilous birth of Heracles. According to the myth, the famous Greek hero is a demigod, prodigiously conceived by Jupiter, the father of the gods, and Alcmene, a mortal. The fact that the woman is already married to Amphitryon, a Theban general, does not prevent the god from satisfying his desires: taking advantage of her husband's absence – he is at war against the Teleboans – Jupiter takes on his appearance and spends a very long night with Alcmene, while Mercury amuses the stage by transforming himself into Sosia, the faithful servant of the house. Unfortunately, Amphitryon and Sosia are about to return home...

 

The theme of identity, alongside that of misunderstanding and the play of doubles typical of Latin comedy, has been translated through the use of caricature masks on stage. The type of mask used is the half-face mask belonging to the tradition of the Commedia dell'arte, revived through an in-depth study of ancient tradition and the mimetic study of comic characters. Scientific and artistic research on the text determined the physical appearance of the characters: Amphitryon has the features of an orangutan, a strong leader with a somewhat gruff character, while the face of the servant Sosia is inspired by the snout of a mouse, a curious animal in constant motion.

 

In 2025, the show was hosted during the summer season at the Roman Theatre in Gubbio (Perugia).

 

Dramaturgical direction: Elisabetta Matelli 

Stage direction: Christian Poggioni 

Restaging: Eri Çakalli