Puppets are returning to Calusco d’Adda, and this time, one of the liveliest characters from Lombard tradition will take the stage.
On Saturday, September 26, at 4:30 p.m., in the outdoor area of Foto Ottica Carminati, located at 20 Via Vittorio Emanuele II, the Ravasio Foundation’s “Borghi&Burattini” festival will make a stop in town with “Meneghino alla riscossa,” a performance by Giorgio Rizzi’s theater company “C’è un asino che vola.” This event is made possible in part by the support of Foto Ottica Carminati, a historic local business that has always been committed to community life and initiatives that foster social interaction. The star of the show is Meneghino, one of the most recognizable characters in Lombard folk theater, who this time is called upon to tackle a story everyone knows, yet one that takes on a new form through the language of puppetry. At the heart of the story are Renzo and Lucia, who are ready to marry despite the opposition of Don Abbondio, who not only wants to prevent the marriage but would even like to marry the young woman himself. It is a paradoxical situation from which the two lovers can escape only thanks to Meneghino’s cunning. With his ever-present cane and a good dose of cunning, the protagonist must find a way to set things right in a story that seems to have taken a wrong turn. “Meneghino to the Rescue” thus plays with Alessandro Manzoni’s *The Betrothed*, taking some of the novel’s most famous elements and transposing them into a world of puppets, jokes, misunderstandings, and theatrical gags.
In Calusco d’Adda, the curtain will therefore rise outdoors, in front of Foto Ottica Carminati, transforming the store’s outdoor space into a small family theater for one afternoon. The decision to support this initiative is part of Foto Ottica Carminati’s longstanding commitment to the Bergamo community and to those who cherish local traditions. Admission is free. In case of inclement weather, the performance will take place at the San Fedele Civic Center, located at 138 Viale dei Tigli.
