'What great charm!': Spend Christmas at Cupiello's house!

Back to Eduardo. Back to NataleLike Famosa dolls when Christmas approaches, the Library of Catalonia hosts Eduardo De Filippo's hilarious three-act comedy. Natale en casa CupielloThe fourth season of a show that premiered in 2010, was revived in 2011 and 2012, and could very well become a Christmas classic. "We'll do it every year as long as my body holds out," Pep Cruz told us after the performance. Perhaps so, because the comedy works wonderfully. Even better than ever, now that Pep Cruz's Luca—like a fine vintage wine—has gained in humanity and wit. The actor is one of the original cast members, along with Marissa Josa, Joan Arqué—the only two actors who have appeared in all four revivals—Màrcia Cisteró, Ramon Vila, Navidad Olivé, and Jordi Coromina. Now Lluís Marquès and Eduard Paredes join the cast, which is very well integrated thanks to the intelligent direction of Oriol Broggi, who carefully manages the histrionics, sets the gags, and even elicits an unusual round of applause for a bed during the transition from the first to the second act. A transition, like that from the second to the third act, that leaves a lasting impression due to its original, organized chaos with a distinctly Neapolitan feel.

This is undoubtedly one of the strengths of the production, to which we must add, of course, Eduardo De Filippo's vibrant script, which embraces both comedy and drama with equal ease, keeping us laughing even in the face of agony; the comedy of manners and the buried drama of characters who, nevertheless, endear themselves to us and are loved. De Filippo knows how to portray the characters with a single shot, more than enough to energize the performance. The patriarch Luca (Pep Cruz), now elderly and with an excessive fondness for nativity scenes; his wife Concetta (Marissa Josa), mater The beloved mother of Tomasino (Lluís Marqués), a kleptomaniac and spoiled son who never seems to grow up, and of Ninuccia (Marcia Cisteró), married to Nicola Percuoco (Joan Arqué), a wealthy Neapolitan industrialist whom they don't like; Luca's manic bachelor brother, Pasquale (Ramon Vila), who lives with them; and the helpful servant, a great coffee lover, Rafaelle (Jordi Coromina), who seeks theChristmas bonusHighly recommended.