Return to the origins. With dialect.

By Baia Sciacca

 "Don't ask weird questions, please..." Laughs heartily, Saro Tindaro, the made-for-media Fiorello, that is, while taking a break from the rehearsals before his show in Barletta.  And awaiting his next stop in Taormina next Friday.  Up and down from the stage, one would say, were it not for the summer crowds to which he is now used to, after having been the karaoke guru and the high priest of the Festivalbar.  Starting in June around Italy with "Stasera paghi te", thought of, as the not-so-subtle title suggests, on the basis of the almost same named show of the past season, he has run for miles and sold out his shows full of gags and music, cabaret and songs all tied by his abilities as an improviser and therefore the unexpected.
Fiorello like a volcano...
"It has taken me a long time to do in television exactly what I want, what came to my mind - he explains - and now, once that I have reached this stage, who will ever let go?  That's why my first format  (which is not really a format since it is improvisation peppered with big named guests) will come back in March.  Stasera pago io due.  The revenge.  Sounds good, no?

- And just to stay in theme, let's talk about "sacchetta".  Do you know that in Taormina there is a struggle to get tickets to your show?
"Let's not talk about that...My mother is from Giardini, my father from Letojanni and all you need to do is consider that to simply understand how this is actually killing our family!  The phone is going crazy, everybody is calling for free tickets, for a little free spot...it is futile to explain that I don't get paid on the basis of the tickets sold but I just get an agreed-upon fee. And the organizers only make their money on the number of tickets sold.  And therefore, free tickets:  none.  But my friends don't give up and keep calling my parents.  Just the other night I heard my mother say "who made you do something this crazy..."

- That's right
"Let's not joke with serious issues.  In Taormina I think I will do things very much differently from the rest of the tour.  For starters I will have a segment in dialect, even if frankly I don't like to give this up even when I am on stage in Varese...and then a couple of other things but there is no point in asking me since I want to surprise everyone"

- Then let's talk about surprises on television.  What is cooking for the winter season?
" The summer tour, practically my very first one in the theater, will end in two huge venues:  the Smeraldo in Milan on September 13 and 14, and then the Sistina in Roma, on October 1.  Shortly after that, about 15 days only, I will begin a show on Radiodue with Marco Baldini, old (so to speak) buddy of adventures at Radio Deejay.  In television, instead, I will not be at least until spring"

- Not even for a quick showing at Sanremo?  Come on, don't leave us all alone all this time.
"Well this year at the Ariston there is Pippo!  Do you know that he is already hard at work?  He is actually writing the lyrics to all the songs (laughs)...All joking aside, I am ecstatic for him and I called him the day after the announcement to congratulate him and it is fair that good luck goes around for everyone.  Especially for him who is going through a tough time.  It's nice to see him part of the melee again, ready to face challenges again. 

- Even in the times of the Grande Fratello?  Haven't the rules of the game changed?
"No, not really.  Just the contrary.  Last year we were all worried, I and Giampiero Solari, the director who is also producing the summer version.  We were wondering who would come to us after the upheaval caused by these guys who every time they come out make the Auditel go wild?  I can't tell you how nervous we were at the eve of the show.  But then, what no one expected happened.  There was an opposite reaction, the return to the dear old variety show, that is in great health.  That is why Stasera pago io arrives in March:  everyone is cooked, tired of the novelties of fall and winter, and so on.  Let's face it (and laughs) I will take advantage of their being tired" Sure, let's let him think that.  After all, who believes him?