Who Ruined the Mona Lisa? was the title of the play performed by the students. Set in Florence, the cradle of many Renaissance works of art, the play offers a mysterious, comical and even slightly romantic spectacle.
The students were the real stars of the event as they themselves wrote the dialogue of the play, designed the set and created the programs and flyers that were distributed to the audience.
Synopsis: In Leonardo’s studio, Aldo (Peter) defends himself against the accusation that he was the one who ruined the Mona Lisa. Immediately afterwards, Lisa (Isabella), the portrait’s subject who has many admirers, appears followed by Federico (Don), a foolish and loving detective, Macchiavelli (Gabriel) a kind-hearted investigator, Lucrezia (Lucia M), a bad maid, Lisa’s husband Francesco (Roman), a wealthy merchant, Minerva (Lucia C) the servant person who secretly loves Leonardo, Giuseppe (Massi), Leonardo’s musician who loves Lisa but does not show it, Bartolo (Samuele), a banker who desperately wants the painting, Michelangelo (Marianna) a self-obsessed artist and Maddalena (Luca), a servant in love with Aldo. The characters are unable to find the culprit, so viewers are invited to take a picture of the image that is on the handout in order to get the answer.
The connection between scenes is made clearer by the play’s narrators; Arya, Diego, Alessio, Sophia and Finn
At the end of the performance, Co.As.It.’s general manager Tommaso Camporeale complimented the students for their excellent use of Italian and for the work put into staging the play.
He especially thanked teachers Alice and Lorena Gabriel for their assistance in producing the show. Special thanks also went to teacher Zuleika for preparing the sound effects and to teachers Ilaria Fontana, Sara and Giuseppina for their role in supporting this beautiful initiative.
Special appreciation was given to the audience who packed out the hall. Congratulations to the young performers also came from Italian Republic Senator Francesco Giacobbe, who was present.
The funds raised during the evening were donated to Stepping Stone House, a charitable organisation that works to provide housing and assistance to young people who are at high risk of homelessness by offering them a safe place to live and a chance to succeed in life. Thirty-eight per cent of Australians struggling with housing are under the age of 25, which means that thousands of children and youths have no home.
