Theater brings the past to life and helps us understand historical developments. This is an extremely powerful statement that helps people to go back in time for a while and look at past events. The meaning of theatrical productions and plays is to convey emotions and facts. This art is popular in all ages, including because the theater makes it possible to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the era. It helps to show events in all their glory and convey not only the emotional, but the historical, social, political and cultural context of a given century.
From this point of view, writing a play about a historical event in Venice in the 1700s was a challenge. This required a study of the life of wealthy families of that time, their habits and elements of ballroom clothing. In order to convey the necessary contrast and division between the members of the sect and Matilde’s family, it was important to carry out a long creative work, including the search for differences and comparisons. In the process, the team needed to delve into the social life of the city to better understand the hierarchy. Each member of the group had their own search tasks, and then everyone discussed the information they found. This simplified the work and contributed to well-coordinated work, where no one felt superfluous.
In matters of social life, the team was tasked with studying the aristocracy in Venice during the 18th century. This era was marked by a period of splitting of the Venetian nobility into rich and poor strata. Since the difference was striking and poor aristocrats often did not have money and education, the choice was made in favor of a wealthy family. The main reason for this is the need to show the masquerade that Matilde’s family puts on and the gloss of social life in Italy in the 1700s.
The masquerade is the hallmark of the city and its main cultural attraction. Masquerade balls and carnivals are a centuries-old tradition, which at one time was not interfered with by plague, famine or war. The team chose the ball as the central place of the action in order to show a little of the historical event that took place in Venice of those years everywhere. The 18th century in the history of Italy is marked by the flourishing of masquerade festivities (Yamboliev and Panciera 23). Thus, the act in the play can be regarded as a kind of prism of the transmission of the historical era. At the same time, all team members had to study outfits, masks and costumes in order to create the image of a wealthy family. It is thanks to this detailed elaboration at the end of the piece that Gioacchino is easily distinguished among the lower class due to his mask.
Additionally, the team’s central task was to uncover the legend of the butcher who committed the murders. With the help of a legend, one can easily convey the spirit of the times. This is due to the fact that the legend is a genre of folklore art, transmitted orally. According to beliefs, he killed children to obtain a stew, which was a great success. However, one day, his atrocities were revealed and he was executed. All his property was destroyed and the river on which the tavern stood is called la Riva de Biasio (Toffolo 31). Before settling on the legend of the butcher, the team members searched for different options and stories, but by all accounts, they came to the conclusion to settle on Biagio. This allowed us to listen to each other’s opinions and take an active part in writing the play.
To write the play, it was important for us to understand the political life of the city. Venice was a separate administrative city and had political problems. First of all, this is due to the fact that the city authorities did not bear responsibility for what was happening. Thus, the sect led by the butcher manages to easily plan and steal the children. At the same time, Gioacchino understands that he will not be protected and decides to look for a stronghold from the convicts of the crusade.
As part of the crusade, our group tried to convey the events to which Venice was related. According to historical facts, the role of the organizer of the event belongs to one of the Popes of Rome – Innocent III (Latin 10). Venice in those days bore the title of Queen of the Seas and hired the ships on which the crusade was conducted (Latin 11). This required effort and careful study of historical events. However, thanks to this mention, the play reflects the power and grandeur of Venice.
In conclusion, it should be said that the creative and intellectual work carried out was a difficult but interesting task. All of the above facts led to the opinion that the theater really helps to understand the past. This can be viewed not only from the point of view of viewers who plunge into the atmosphere of the era. The playwrights will conduct numerous searches and comparisons for the most accurate rendering of events.
Works Cited
Latin, Irena Benyovsky. “Topography of Power: Venice and the Eastern Adriatic Cities in the Century Following the Fourth Crusade.” The City and History, vol. 10, no. 1, 2021. pp. 6-47.
Toffolo, Sandra. Describing the city, describing the state: representations of Venice and the Venetian terraferma in the Renaissance. Brill, 2020.
Yamboliev, Kalina, and Walter Panciera. The Republic of Venice in the 18th century. Viella, 2021.