A coeval of the 20th century, a world-famous playwright, a favorite of Neapolitans, who were close and dear to them, this is Eduardo de Filippo. His drama is close to Italians and to all ordinary people of the world, because he described their life, drew ideas from the unique flavor of Naples. The humanism and philanthropy of the creations put the “King of Naples” in the front ranks of theatrical figures as a playwright, director and actor.
The formation of a playwright
The illegitimate son of theatrical costume designer Luis de Filippo and the famous Eduardo Scarpetta was born on May 24 of the first year of the XX century. With his brother Pepino and sister Titina, he spent his childhood on the stage of the theater. From the age of four, Eduardo appears on the stages of Naples with his father, absorbing his skills, ability to communicate and lead the troupe. The theater did not become his life, he was it.
He did not really study anywhere, his school was and his whole life remained a theater and beloved Naples. At fourteen, he contracts with Vincenzo's half-brother. The dream of Eduarto, Titina and Pepino about their own
temple of Melpomene will become a reality only in 1931, when they open the Humorous Theater de Filippo.
Young playwright
By this time, a few farcical plays, one-act plays for variety shows and rich experience in dealing with ordinary Neapolitans will gather in de Filippo’s luggage. The theater successfully staged plays by the brothers and Titina, as well as other Neapolitan authors. They worked together for thirteen years, and then Pepino opened his own theater, and Eduardo and his sister went their own way. In 1945, the Eduardo Theater appeared. For his sister, he wrote the best female image of the unforgettable Filumena Marturano.
The heyday of dramaturgy
De Filippo is a famous actor, he is called the last Neapolitan great actor-author. His directorial work is very interesting. But the main thing in his work is drama, and this heritage is most valuable and determines the individuality of Eduardo as an actor and director.
Naples, located at the foot of Vesuvius, according to the hero of our story, seemed to him a theatrical scene. Here, among the narrow streets and in close cafes, the heroes of Eduardo de Filippo lived and worked. His plays are permeated with the atmosphere of sunny Italy, the everyday problems of the Neapolitans, little sorrows and joys.
Hits of Eduardo
Significant success of Eduardo was the play "Naples - the city of millionaires", staged at the San Carlo Theater. The success of the play in general and Eduardo and Titina in particular (they starred) was overwhelming. Since that time, when Naples was talking about Eduardo in Naples, everyone knew that it was De Filippo.
The play “Risk” by Eduardo de Filippo tells the story of an unhappy wife who endlessly tries to shoot a rude and cruel wife, but she comes to life tender and loving. Of course, not for long. And everything repeats.
The most famous work of Eduardo de Filippo - “Filumen Marturano” - has been repeatedly filmed. The film "Vittorio de Sica" Love in Italian "with Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroiani in the lead roles, of course, about love in Naples. And today he looks at one go, relevant and makes you think a lot.
A very interesting play by Eduardo de Filippo “The Cylinder”. The tricky move of two married couples, designed to pay off their debts, suddenly turns into a bizarre interweaving of passions and destinies. And all this to the unique noise of Naples and the magnificent dialogue.
The author’s favorite play, to which he repeatedly returns, is “The Man and the Gentleman”. Eduardo de Filippo put her in 1933 and played a major role in it. But even later he returned to the production, finding ever new facets of the image of a person falling and his willpower to rise. The author himself believed that this work reflects the entire history of mankind.
Eduardo de Filippo wrote more than 55 theatrical plays. The most famous: “Filumena Marturano”, “Cylinder”, “Risk”, “Mayor of the Sanita district”, “Ghosts”, “Man and gentleman”. In addition to the performances, film adaptations are known under the direction of both Eduardo himself and other directors (Dino Risi's “Ghosts”, Vittorio de Sica “Marriage in Italian”).
Comedies are full of the psychologism of ordinary ordinary people in Naples. They are imbued with the spirit of a square theater with buffoonery and improvisations. They have tragedy, farce, drama. Their world is colorful and theatrical. In the center is always the main character, acting at the same time as a comic character and an ordinary living person. He is close to the author and written as from himself.
Personal
Eduardo got married three times. With his first wife Dorothy Pennington, the marriage was annulled. The second - Thea Prandi - bore him two children. Daughter at the age of ten tragically died from rupture of blood vessels in the brain. The tragedy came to him hard, and this led to a divorce. The son of Luke followed in his father's footsteps. His father handed over the leadership of his theater. The third wife - Isabella Quarantotti - survived Eduardo.
Last years
The playwright loved life and youth. Until the very end of his journey, he paid attention to works on television, staged and shot his plays, comedies of earlier authors. For young talents, he created the Florentine school for playwrights and a drama studio in Rome. Luke's son from his second marriage adopted the art of his father and continued his work in the theater.
Heritage
His merits were appreciated: in Italy he is a lifelong senator since 1981. He has many awards both at home and abroad.
The great playwright died in 1984 and was buried in Rome. Of the 84 years lived, 78 he devoted to the theater and more than forty to cinema. A favorite of Naples, "King Eduardo" - he was and remains a man-theater.
If you suddenly want to hear the noise of Neapolitan streets and feel the aroma of coffee made with love by Filumena, open any play by Eduardo de Filippo or watch an adaptation of his plays.