There was heartfelt applause and laughter last night at the recently renovated and elegant Teatro Garau in Oristano for the third leg of the sold-out tour of "The Ghost Wife," a brilliant comedy by English author David Tristram, performed by a close-knit cast led by Pino Quartullo and Maria Grazia Cucinotta.

The production, co-produced by CMC/Nidodiragno and RARA as part of the Cedac Great Prose circuit chaired by Antonio Cabiddu and directed by Valeria Ciabattoni, benefits from the precise and dynamic direction of Marco Rampoldi.

A comedy of errors with a typically British flavour, “The Ghost Wife” builds its strength on a tight dramatic mechanism, in which lies, misunderstandings and paradoxical situations intertwine at an increasing pace.

Tristram's text, light only in appearance, plays with the absurd and the fragility of relationships, transforming a surreal expedient into an effective comic detonator.

On stage, Pino Quartullo demonstrates great mastery of comic timing, crafting a character, Will, constantly teetering between panic and self-absolution, while Maria Grazia Cucinotta, making her stage debut after an extraordinary international career on the big screen, beloved and followed by millions of film buffs, offers a brilliant, elegant, and perfectly calibrated interpretation of her Claire, capable of alternating charm and irony with ease.

Their scenic understanding, empathetic and engaging, is one of the show's strong points, supported by a chemistry that holds the entire narrative structure.

Alongside the two leads, the cast proves to be compact and effective: Giorgio Verduci, the hilarious Alex, one of the three pillars of the story, and Roberta Petrozzi, the extraordinary and sensual Glenda, whom Alex would like to be with the protagonist, enrich the scene with an incisive presence always at the service of comedy, while Giorgio Centamore and Alessandra Faiella contribute with hilarity and empathy to the most hilarious moments of the final act, lending verve and personality to a performance capable of giving further impetus to the finale, which proves to be explosive and full of surprises.

Marco Rampoldi's direction focuses on a fluid, flawless structure, enhancing the ensemble and maintaining a high pace: over 90 minutes of great entertainment in two acts that keep spectators glued to their seats, enthralled by a masterfully crafted work by the expert hand of a master of comedy. Rampoldi grew up at Milan's Piccolo Teatro with Giorgio Strehler's shows and was assistant director to Dario Fo, continuing his career in cabarets with small-screen celebrities, such as Teresa Mannino, and serious works of exceptional depth.

The technical contribution is crucial in this sense: Lucio Diana's sets outline a functional and dynamic space, capable of withstanding the vortex of misunderstandings, Laura Liguori's costumes precisely characterize the characters, Andrea Lisco's lighting design effectively accompanies the changes in atmosphere, while Diego Maggi's music underlines the key passages with lightness and irony.

The result is a brilliant show, which does not give up a subtle vein of melancholy beneath the comic surface.

The Oristano audience responded enthusiastically, appreciating a production that combines lightheartedness, mystery, magic, plenty of comedy, and powerful messages.

An evening of theater that confirms how comedy, when supported by a solid text and a top-notch cast, can captivate and entertain without losing its depth.

After the show, many of Maria Grazia Cucinotta's fans waited outside the theater for selfies and autographs, granted with the famous Sicilian diva's usual generosity and kindness. She is always available and kind to all the fans she meets on her tours.

In the video greeting to readers of L'Unione Sarda, the cast invites you not to miss the final evening scheduled for tonight, Sunday, February 22, at 9 pm at the Teatro Tonio Dei in Lanusei.

LP

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