Beginning tonight at 9.30 pm with the 11th Canto of Dante's Inferno (Hell), 22 performances of Roberto Benigni's hit show TuttoDante (Everything Dante) in Florence delve into the meanings and modern parallels of the most famous work of the city's greatest poet.
From the 20th of July through the 6th of August, under the stars in Florence's Piazza Santa Croce, Benigni will tackle one canto (chapter) of Dante's Inferno each performance, punctuating a lively, well-gesticulated recitation with quips comparing the denizens of Dante's hell to modern public figures.
Benigni will introduce audiences to the heretics in the sixth circle of Dante's hell, the Minotaur and Harpies tormenting the violent sinners in the seventh circle, and the great frauds of ancient and Renaissance history, including Jason of the Argonauts, who occupy the eighth circle.
Something between university lecture and stand-up comedy, TuttoDante unites Roberto Benigni's quick wit and satirical skills with his studious side, as Benigni slips in educative details on the mythological and historical inspiration of Dante's words from his past seven years of research and collaboration with prominent Dante scholars.
TuttoDante began in 2006 in Greece with the "Canto of Ulysses", the 26th chapter of Dante's Inferno, and has since toured 50 cities across North America and Europe, from San Francisco to Montreal and London to Zurich.
Despite the show's international success, Benigni has insisted on keeping tickets at the same price as the 2007 Florence performances. 17 euro tickets are available online or in person at the event, which seats 6000 audience members per performance.
