The Sicilian Puppet Theater of Agrippino Manteo (1884-1947): The Paladins of France in America

Sicilian puppet theater was a popular form of cultural expression for working-class southern Italians and Sicilians, flourishing in diasporic Italian urban communities. Agrippino Manteos scripts are testimony to the rich substance of the Paladins of France narratives dramatized on the traditional opera dei pupi stage. This study reconstructs the history of the Manteo family marionette theater in New York City across seven decades and three generations, provides translations of eight selected plays and 270 extant summaries, and offers comparative analyses uncovering the creative process of adaptation from Italian Renaissance masterpieces of chivalric poetry to nineteenth-century prose compilations to Agrippino Manteos opera dei pupi dramatizations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 13 June 2023
Publisher: Anthem Press

Sicilian puppet theater held a paramount position as the primary means of cultural expression for the working-class southern Italians and Sicilians during the early 1800s, until the advent of television in the 1950s. This captivating form of dramatic prose theater also thrived in diasporic Italian urban communities, uniting immigrants through nightly performances of the same cherished chivalric stories. The scripts of Agrippino Manteo, which have been examined for the first time in this study, provide a testament to the rich substance of the Paladins of France narratives that were dramatized on the traditional opera dei pupi stage.

Yet, the alternating episodes of love, enchantment, adventure, and warfare extend beyond their historical and aesthetic significance, inviting us to immerse ourselves in the passion, heartbreak, excitement, and magic of knights and damsels from across the globe. From Europe to North Africa to East Asia, these characters share the stage with a diverse array of wizards, fairies, giants, and monsters, creating a captivating tapestry of fantasy and adventure.

This study reconstructs the history of the Manteo family marionette theater in New York City over seven decades and three generations. It includes translations of eight selected plays and 270 extant summaries, along with comparative analyses that shed light on the creative process of adaptation. By examining the translations of Agrippino Manteo's opera dei pupi dramatizations, we gain insight into how he transformed Italian Renaissance masterpieces of chivalric poetry into nineteenth-century prose compilations and ultimately into his unique opera dei pupi adaptations.

Through this comprehensive exploration, we witness the enduring legacy of Sicilian puppet theater, which not only entertained but also fostered a sense of community and cultural identity among the working-class southern Italians and Sicilians. It serves as a testament to the power of storytelling and the ability of art to transcend boundaries, connecting people from different backgrounds and generations.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 229 x 153 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839987649