Filumena Marturano (play)

The play was written by the author in 1946 for her sister, actress Titina De Filippo , who first played the role of Filumena Marturano. Following her, the performers of this role in performances and television productions were , , Valeria Morikoni , , Lina Sastri and Marianjela Melato ^{[2] [K 1]} .

The premiere of the comedy in Neapolitan language took place on November 7, 1946 on the stage of the Politeama Theater in Naples . The performance was so successful with the public that the actors who played in the premiere performance were received by Pope Pius XII at a private audience ^[2] .

In 1951, Eduardo De Filippo , in which he played with his sister. In 1962, he also created a television version with Regina Bianchi in the title role. In 1964, Vittorio De Sica, based on a comedy, shot the film “ Marriage in Italian ” with Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni in the lead roles. One of the famous theatrical productions of the play abroad in Italy was a 1977 production in London directed by Franco Zeffirelli with Joan Plaurait in the title role ^[2] .

Actors

• Filumena Marturano
• Domenico Soriano
• Alfredo Amoroso
• Rosalia Solimene
• Diana
• Umberto
• Riccardo
• Michele
• Nocell Attorney
• Lucia, the maid
• Teresina, the dressmaker
• First waiter
• Second waiter

Action One

  All three actions take place in the hereditary parental house of Domenico Soriano.
    The first action begins with a scene of violent indignation.  Domenico accuses "the whole lane, the quarter, Naples, the world" and Filumen Marturano of being fooled.
    From the bickering between Domenico and Filumena, we learn the history of their relationship.
    Domenico - 52 years old, childless bachelor.  Filumena - 48 years old, of "plebeian origin", illiterate.  Their connection lasts 25 years.  She lives in his house, but he is not a wife. 
    Domenico’s father was “one of Naples’s richest pastry chefs,” which satisfied Dominico’s passion for horse racing and horse racing.  The son became the owner of rich stables, his thoroughbred trotters won first prizes. 
    One of his former riders, Alfredo Amoroso, 60, became his chauffeur and pimp.
    Women, like horses, were also Domenico's passion. 
    The marriage with his first wife did not stop him from visiting the brothel regularly, where Domenico “met” with Filumena.  She liked him and he rented an apartment for her.
     The unnamed wife died prematurely, but Filumena’s hope for a marriage with Domenico is in vain.  However, he did not want to let her go, and she simply moved to his mansion.
     In the period of earnings by prostitution, Filumen three times gives birth to boys.  ("From whom? From the same as you. Because all men are the same.")
     During her first pregnancy, her brothel girlfriends advised an abortion, Filumena prayed to the Virgin Mary, and the answer was: “Children are children.” 
     Life with Domenico was not joyful for Filumena: 
     "I led your house better than your wife. I washed his feet for his whole life and never once felt that he appreciated my devotion. Not once! All my life I have been like your slave and I can be put out the door at any time .. "And he still brings handkerchiefs stained with lipstick. I'm sick of it."
     Filumena endured for the sake of children.  She secretly robbed Domenico and raised children with this money, paid for their education and provided initial capital for the business.
     The children did not know their mother.
     The eldest son, Michele, 26 years old, runs a water workshop.  The middle one, Riccardo, is the owner of a shirt shop.  Umberto is an accountant and writer.
     Domenico intends to marry his next passion Diana ("nauseating girl", "dried fish" by the definition of Filumena).  Filumena may be on the street.  And she decides to trick Domenico into legalizing their relationship.
     Filumena portrays a deadly disease and expresses her last request to marry Domenico.  Domenico is indifferent to Filumena’s disease: he cuddles with Diana near the "sick" bed.  But agrees.  The marriage is legalized by a priest, witnesses are Alfredo Amaroso and Rosalia Solomene, a servant of Filumena.
      As soon as the padre left, Filumena herself opened a hoax, jumping out of bed with congratulations.
      This caused a storm of anger, which opens the first action. 
      The second shock for Domenico was to find out that Filumena had three children, that he contains them, that they should bear his last name and live in his house.
      Diana is coming.  Filumena sends her.  Diana leaves.

Action Two

  Rosalia Solomene tells Alfredo Amaroso about his life.  Born in 1870 “in a family of poor but honest parents”, married in 1887, gave birth to triplets, widowed early, lived in the basement, made flytraps, traded coffins and paper caps.  The children parted: some to America, some to Australia.  Filumena lived in the same lane, played with her children, then took Domenico with her to the house.
   Domenico is sad that years have taken away: "Paris, London, Buenos Aires ... horse racing ... I felt like the lord of the universe!"
   Alfredo echoes him: "A great horse! She had a croup ... When I looked at her butt in the face, it seemed to me that it was a full moon. I was in love with this horse! This is probably why I was sold by a hairdresser."
   Diana, the lawyer and Domenico are locked in his office.
   Three sons come, caused by the letters of Philomena.  They do not know about their relationship, quickly bore each other and start a fight.
   The lawyer explains to Filumene that the marriage is not valid.
   Filumena announces to young people that she is their mother. 
   She talks about her impoverished childhood: they lived in the basement, it was stuffy in the summer, it was cold in the winter, constant malnutrition, the bitterness of people.  Following the example of a friend, she went to work in a brothel, broke up with her family.  And yet she managed to raise children. 
   The eldest and younger, Michele and Umberto, rejoice in finding a mother.  Michele invites Filumene to move to him.  The middle son, Riccardo, silently leaves.
   Filumena agrees to annul the marriage.
   She makes a confession to Domenico that one of his sons is from him, but refuses to name exactly who.

Action Three

  Ten months later.  Wedding Day Domenico and Filumeny. 
   Rosalia on behalf of Filumena puts candles in front of the altar of the Madonna. 
   Domenico meets with three sons and tries to find out which of them is more like him.  But the “consequence” does not produce results.  Like Domenico, all three are loving.  On the other hand, Domenico sings well, and the brothers have no hearing.
   Domenico is asking Filumena what his son is.  Filumena explains that there must be equality between the brothers, otherwise they will become enemies because of money.
   Ceremony. 
   Filumena came up with a law for herself, which she followed: laugh, not cry.  She explained this: "When you know only the bad, you don’t cry."  
   Filumena: "How good to cry."  - "Children are children," - Domenico.

• Eduardo De Filippo. Filumena Marturano (neopr.) . www.paololandi.it. - The text of the comedy in Russian. Date of treatment March 3, 2016.