Fiorello arrives

By Giò Alajmo

Fiorello arrives in Padua with his new show and it will hosted tonight and tomorrow at the set "7" of the Fiera, refurbished as a theatre with new seating and stages that have directly increased the number of available tickets that - as an official statement by Zed, the official organizer, puts it - "will be on sale today starting at 3 pm until showtime at 9,30 pm".  It is his "One man show", which, for the Sicilian comedian, still means a multitude of characters that are part of it.

But how is this "Fiore nessuno e centomila"?
"One cannot even really say that it is the evolution of my first show - Says Rosario Fiorello - since that one "Stasera paghi te", was the an abbreviated version of the one, by the same name, that I had done on television.  This time, instead, the show is live first and then goes to television.  In fact, it is entirely new, a preview of eight episodes that will begin on April 3 on Raiuno. And doing it first in a theatre was a deliberate choice.  Each evening one works live gives new ideas and inspirations.  From my first experience I learned that you cannot simply do theatre like you do television, if anything, out of respect for those who paid a ticket to get in.  Sure, there is also someone who yells "Do La Russa", but at most you can do that for 10 seconds because if all you do is imitations of Califano and La Russa, many will say that they have already seen it"

So, what is new, then?
"There is a portion dedicated to music.  We have fun.  The songs are places casually throughout the show.  Each is like a self-standing page, like the imitation of Cocciante who goes from the Hutchback of Notre Dame to one of the happiest songs of the last 30 years, "50 special"... But especially because each night there are connections to current events.  If Berlusconi gets a facelift, how can you not talk about it?  Like the Parmalat case.  Today the real comedy is in the current events, on the fact that on Mars they need to send a cop since there is already a lot of traffic, probes that come and go.  My comedy is light, almost hidden, but let's just say that the first part is tied to current events, the second to music and the third will be a surprise for everyone."

You say that your comedy will be light.  To avoid perhaps the censorship that is shutting many comedians?
"No.  That's just the way I am.  I am not a violent satirist, I am "old-style", like Walter Chiari, to be understood, without making comparisons.  I am part of that old generation of showmen who arrived finally to television.  You make people laugh with a face or an improvised gag with the orchestra.  In Milan at a show a woman arrived who could not seem to find her seat and kept on going around the theatre.  I stayed on her for twenty minutes.  In Naples I picked on a guy for a half hour and then I asked him "Who are you?" and he replied "The chief of police of Naples".  Oops... And sometimes I find old friends among the audience, Ramazzotti, Antonacci, Paoloantoni, Bonolis, Frizzi, Ventura..."

Who give you outlets to play?
"Sometimes.  Once Pippo Baudo came up on stage and didn't want to get off.  We are used to seeing him at the piano doing his songs but this time he just got on the keyboards and improvised some blues with the band."

Speaking of Baudo and Ventura.  What about Sanremo?
"It's welcome.  Everyone was claiming that nothing new would be seen this year and now we have them.  The jury is still out on whether the songs will be any good.  But I am open to the change and wish the best to Simona, and I would imagine she will bring her comedy staff along like Crozza and Gnocchi"

Are you considering a new record, a book, a dvd?
"None of this.  Maybe something will come out from my radio shows since that's where I have a lot of material I have not yet used"

Fiorello's show will have three giant screens on which the comedian will interact with the band of ten elements directed by Enrico Cremonesi "and he urges everyone to bring their cellphones and to have them on"

Did you follow the discussion between Ricci and Bonolis on the fact that some things on tv are set up?
"Every bit of it.  It actually amused me a lot.  They even tried to get me involved for something back at the time of the karaoke.  As a spectator I was amused but for them it must have been quite stressful.  That too is a reality show.  It follows the fashion of the moment.  There is Grande Fratello, there is Isola dei Famosi and then the Ricci-Bonolis diatribe"

But deep down, what is real on television, anyway?
"In television 70 percent is real and 30 percent is made up.  Each show has its tricks.  And even I have mine.  But to a reality show I oppose a variety show that is actually all fake!"

Rai today appears to be in a major state of confusion.  Does it create problems for you personally?
"No.  Cattaneo is a train in full speed and is causing trouble for everyone, even if many said he was the Mediaset man sent to infiltrate Rai.  And then there's Del Noce, whom I used to imitate on the radio.  Now it doesn't seem appropriate - he laughs - and besides, it depends on what else is going on at the moment.  The real challenge is being able to adapt to the rhythms of television, of completing a gag in three minutes"

And what about the censorship to Guzzanti, Fo, Luttazzi?
"Comedians need to become more astute.  One can do the same comedy bit masquerading it a bit and making it a bit less explicit.  The risk is that otherwise it risks becoming an attack rather than a gag meant to entertain.  In the end I wind up saying anything I want on anybody and since I am in nobody's camp, I say what I want"

Who is today your favorite politician to imitate?
"President Ciampi.  Of the others I'd rather not speak.  I don't imitate them. Nowadays the originals themselves have become too funny all by themselves"

And what is awaiting for us in April?
"The show will be called "Stasera pago io - Revolution", like the last Matrix movie.  We'll have it at the Teatro delle Vittorie using the nearby street Via Col di Lana and maybe even Via Asiago.  I will go around on a scooter to pick up my guests at the bar between cars and normal people.  Let's hope it works.  It will be a variety-reality show"

Any guests already on the list?
"It's too soon.  I saw Ramazzotti and invited him to the opening show.  He said ok but let's see if he remembers come April..."