Piccolo Teatro Strehler stages Eduardo De Filippo’s ‘Non ti pago’

The play ‘Non ti pago’, written by Eduardo De Filippo in 1940, is being staged at the Piccolo Teatro Strehler in Milan from October 6 to 18. This production features the final direction of Luca De Filippo, brought back to the stage by Carolina Rosi alongside actors Salvo Ficarra and Nicola Di Pinto.

The comedy centers on Ferdinando Quagliuolo, a lottery stall manager consumed by superstition and an obsession with gambling. He lives in constant anticipation of a winning combination sent to him in a dream by his deceased father. The plot takes a turn when the father appears in a dream to Mario Bertolini, Ferdinando’s employee, suggesting the winning numbers. This leads to an absurd conflict as Ferdinando claims the luck and the numbers rightfully belong to him because of his relationship with his father.

Carolina Rosi noted the emotional significance of using the original scenography and costumes to preserve the memory of Luca De Filippo’s work. The production has been noted for Salvo Ficarra’s performance in navigating the complex balance between comedy and the bitter undertones characteristic of De Filippo’s writing.