Francesco Scianna in Catania in "Hospitality Suite": "On stage, the desire for success, fragility, laughter, and profit that forgets humanity."

He started acting as a teenager. A theater course was enough to instill a passion in his heart forever. After the National Academy of Dramatic Art and his debut at 19 in "The Most Beautiful Day of My Life" by Cristina Comencini, he never stopped. He has been a policeman and a mobster, a crime boss and a womanizer, Sicilian and Venetian, dramatic and brilliant, jumping between TV, cinema, and theater. Mediterranean charm, dark velvety gaze, and seductive voice, Francesco Scianna, born in Bagheria and raised in Palermo, is now directing the play "Hospitality Suite" by Roger Rueff, which will debut nationally in Catania on Wednesday at Teatro Brancati. Scianna is also performing alongside Sergio Romano, Lorenzo Crovo, and Fabrizio Romano.

From April 2, we will see him in the film Pif "...that God forgives everyone," then in the film "Made in Jivu," and in the fall in the fiction on Canale 5 "Erica," an adaptation of the successful Franco-Belgian series based on the novels of Camilla Läckberg, in which Vanessa Incontrada, a writer in crisis, investigates local crimes with the policeman Leonardo played by Scianna, and in the Sky series "Gucci - The End of the Games" directed by Gabriele Muccino, where he will be Maurizio Gucci alongside Miriam Leone as Patrizia Reggiani.

"Hospitality Suite" (from which the film "The Big Kahuna" was adapted) takes place over a long and claustrophobic night in a hotel suite, where Larry, Phil, and Bob, three salesmen at a convention, try to land a big client who could save the company. In this space - ring, Freudian couch, confessional - ambitions, fragilities, and inner conflicts are confronted in a tight exchange of dialogue.

Chamber theater, all in one day, all in one room. What intrigued you about this text?

"I arrived at 'Hospitality Suite' after a long search. I was struck by the happy combination of contemporary writing, with a rhythmic cadence of pauses and silences, and the presence of themes that fascinated me. It is a brilliant comedy, with intelligent provocation, an existential reflection on society, time, and the human being. Larry, my character, represents the model of a profit-driven society, the desire for success, of someone who becomes absorbed until they completely adhere to that social figure. Phil, a colleague and friend, is paying the price for some choices he has made. The blind craving for success can lead to the loss of one's essence, of being 'human,' of meaning, of why we are here."

The three discuss women, friendship, and even God. Ethics and business clash, the spirit of the salesman against the spirituality of the novice Bob, who is deeply religious.

"Bob, in an innocent yet powerful way, acts as a detonator in the lives of the other two. He brings to the forefront an important theme: are we really completely losing the human aspect? Who said that when one practices a profession, the human part must disappear? The text draws attention to the 'profit society' where being 'human' takes a back seat, and one becomes almost superfluous. There is one phrase in particular that convinced me to choose the text, it made me feel its power: 'But then why don't they send robots?'".

The revolution of today: workers replaced by AI, algorithms, or robots.

"Two years ago, in China, where I was shooting a film, I ordered a coffee in my room and it was brought to me by a robot. It struck me a lot. Unbridled capitalism advances without considering the human being. But we cannot lose sight of the fact that we are first and foremost human beings. Especially in a terrible time of war like the one we are experiencing."

The three lay themselves bare.

"There is discussion, teasing, provoking, loving each other without having the courage to admit it. Each one comes to terms with themselves and with others."

Why did he move to directing?

"I have a theatrical background. My first direction 'Death of a Salesman,' in 2018, was born from the desire to share a study path with the actors, but it also spoke of something I was facing in my life, the very strong father-son relationship, I also wanted to emancipate myself from some teachers with whom I trained. To become autonomous. Here I direct and I am also an interpreter. I like challenges, I don't stay in my comfort zone. As a director, the difficulty of 'Hospitality Suite' lies in trying to enhance the text, to exalt its human dynamics and make them universal. The questions posed by the characters are those of Greek tragedy: the meaning of life, the relationship with the gods."

The turning point in his journey came at a very young age with 'Baaria.'

"Another dream that came true 360 degrees: a film with a great Oscar-winning director, about my hometown and as the protagonist. You wonder, is this really happening to me? I consider myself lucky."

We will see her in Pif's film and in the series about Gucci directed by Muccino.

"I had never acted with Pif, it was nice to be on stage with someone who knows how to play with intelligent comedy. Muccino? I adore him, I am very happy about this partnership, I shot many short films with him years ago and two seasons of the series 'A casa tutti bene', he is a master, it was one of my dreams to have a long journey with a director, Gabriele is a master, when you know each other, having worked together, it takes little to understand what he wants. I am happy to shoot with him again."

He was on set with Morgan Freeman and Joaquin Phoenix.

"When you are faced with the history of cinema, all the rules go out the window! – he laughs – They are sacred monsters. I told Freeman: 'You are one of the reasons I started acting. 'The Shawshank Redemption changed my life.' I realized I wanted to evoke emotions like he did with me."

The national debut is in Catania.
"I can't wait, I acted in Catania twenty years ago in 'La signora delle camelie' with Monica Guerritore and I haven't returned since. I am very curious to see how the show will be received."

What does Sicily mean to you?

"A magical place because it holds an important history, a mix of beautiful cultures and it is one of the most fertile places I have ever known. If I could, I would live on the island because it is the richest land there is. I hope there can be an increasingly active and organized cultural life."

Lights and shadows of your Palermo?

"After 'Manifesta', a much more European movement was created, many artists fell in love with the city. I love the Cantieri culturali, Spazio Franco, and the De Seta cinema. I would like to create my own reality one day."

What do you miss about Sicily?

"It's an epidermal issue. My friends tell me that the moment I land in Palermo, my face, my expression changes. There is a force of nature, the air, the sun, the food. I miss the ease of distances, in 10 minutes from the center you are at the sea."

What don't you like?

"It deeply angers me that a good part of the water that flows through the pipes is wasted. This drives me crazy; it is inconceivable that even today we are unable to redo, improve, or change the pipes and water systems. We cannot lose water; we must do it for our land."

Do you have a special place?

"The seaside area of Bagheria where I was born is very dear to me. I love Sferracavallo in Palermo, where I also organized a beach cleanup. I posted an announcement on social media, and ten people showed up. We collected 80 bags of trash in the parking lot by the beach access. Without proclamations, I like to take action."

THE POSTER FOR "HOSPITALITY SUITE"

by Roger Rueff

directed and performed by Francesco Scianna.

starring Sergio Romano, Lorenzo Crovo and Fabrizio Romano

translation by Paola Ponti and Paola Ermenegildo

set and lighting by Angelo Linzalata

costumes by Stefania Cempini

music by Paolo Spaccamonti.

The production is by Marche Teatro, Goldenart Production, Teatro Biondo Palermo, La Fabbrica dell’Attore –Teatro Vascello di Roma.

TEATRO BRANCATI DI CATANIA

SHOW CALENDAR
wednesday, March 18, at 9 PM
thursday, March 19, at 5:30 PM
friday, March 20, at 5:30 PM
saturday, March 21, at 5:30 PM and 9 PM
sunday, March 22, at 5:30 PM