Wednesday,
June 18, 2008
"Sweepers" by John Picardi, Three Generations of Italian American are Swept by Change
The
ANNOTICO Report
"Sweepers" seems like a very viable Film
Project, is the second of his Italian American Play series.
"Seven
Rabbits on a Pole" was the first. Love, lust, opera
and art occupy the Padroni family, Italian immigrants
living on a vegetable farm near
Traditional Women are Swept by Change
By Shirle
Gottlieb
June 17, 2008
From the earliest days in the American colonies to life in the 21st century, conflict results every time there's a shift in religious rituals, traditional behavior or accepted cultural mores.
Enter John Picardi,
a playwright who grew up in an Italian-Catholic environment in
Set in a working-class section of
Bella, Mary and Dotty are the first-generation offspring of parents who came to the East Coast at the turn of the century. Lifelong friends, they grew up in a close-knit Italian neighborhood that was segregated from the predominant "Yankee" community.
Though they are proud Americans, they have been brought up by the strict code of behavior demanded of Italian wives and mothers: Men are superior to women, their place is in the home, they must be faithful to the church and the Virgin Mary will protect them.
But life is hard, and World War II has severely disrupted traditional roles. With husbands and sons away at the front, women are left in charge. Change is in the air.
True to their origins, the characters in Picardi's poignant story are vivacious, emotional spitfires who freely express themselves. Under the cogent direction of caryn desai, the actors portray their diverse parts with passion and conviction, whether it be laughter and tears or joy and anger.
Susan Giosa is fantastic as Bella, strongest of the three women. Her good-for-nothing Irish husband deserted her years ago, leaving her alone with a baby son. With grit and determination, she persevered.
Bella's son Sonny (who wasn't drafted because
of a heart murmur) has grown up to be an intelligent young man (fine
performance by Jamie Hobert) who graduated from law
school at the head of his class and is now employed by a big
When the play begins, Dotty and Mary gossip about Sonny's engagement to his boss's daughter Karen (the lovely Danielle Vernengo). They don't trust the blond beauty because she's educated, upper-class and assimilated.
The burning question for Mary and Dotty is whether Karen will hang out her sheets after her wedding night. (This old-world ritual would prove to everyone that she was a virgin.) Although Karen is respectful of her Italian ancestry, she has no intention of following such a tradition.
In addition, Bella expects Sonny and his new bride to move into her meager place with her. Although Sonny loves and respects his mother, and is proud to be Italian, he and Karen are planning to buy a little house outside of the run-down neighborhood.
Meanwhile, poor, uneducated Dotty (delightfully
portrayed by Donna Ponterotto) has been visiting
her husband in the mental ward of the VA hospital. Ever since he was sent home
from
The third loyal friend is Mary. Valerie Perri turns in a dynamic portrayal of the pretty wife who is left alone when her husband and son are shipped to the Pacific. Aside from praying daily to the Virgin Mary, she fills up her time by collecting paper and scrap metal for the war effort.
Act Two is a dramatic knockout. The tragic events that occur in the lives of these average Italian-Americans are emblematic of tremendous changes that took place in our country during World War II.
THE SWEEPERS
Currently : International City Theatre, Center Theater, Long Beach Performing Arts Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.
When: 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m.
Sunday; through July 6. Tickets: $32-$42.
Shirle Gottlieb is a
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