«My Todero is not an imaginary figure. There are, unfortunately, people just like him»: now, as was the case two centuries ago, it is common to come across a brontolon, a grouch, like the one in the title of Carlo Goldoni’s play. A boor who, unlike the four famous curmudgeons of another of Goldoni’s works, has lost all trace of good nature. The script paints him as miserly, arrogant, grumpy with his staff, oppressive towards his son and niece, and suspicious and cantankerous with everyone else. It seems impossible to feel empathy for such a figure, and yet it is one of the most popular roles with both audiences and actors, ever since it made its debut in Venice in 1762. It is now the turn of Franco Branciaroli who, directed by Paolo Valerio, offers an extraordinary and surprising interpretation.
«I have chosen», explains the director, «to set the play in the backstage area of a family of puppeteers; I was attracted by the idea of Franco Branciaroli on stage as a grand puppeteer overseeing everyone’s actions. He thinks he is in charge, but in the end he realises that he has no control at all, and on the contrary is under command himself”.».