Die Kunst der Komödie

Comedy by Eduardo de Filippo

Prefect de Caro is a new official in the city and the first person he meets is the theater director Orestino Campese. His theater group has lost its venue due to a fire and has been performing in the town's ballroom ever since. But the audience is reluctant to come. It's a case of overcoming fears and Campese asks de Caro for his help: the prefect should attend a performance as a shining example and the audience will flock again. But de Caro believes he has more important tasks ahead of him. Campese warns him not to confuse appearance and reality and raves about the versatility of his actors. Are they really doctors, priests and teachers who present their dramatic fates to the prefect during his consultation?

The Italian actor and author Eduardo de Filippo was one of the greats of Italian film and theater in the 20th century and first performed his "Art of Comedy" in 1965. Peter Hailer, long-time acting director of the Oldenburg State Theatre, stages a dazzling play of reality and illusions as a declaration of love to the power of the theater.