With “Fra’ Cipolla”, the Bruscellino returns: an itinerant show in the form of Bruscello

On Sunday 18th September, the Bruscellino will animate the streets of Montepulciano via itinerant performances. The Compagnia Popolare del Bruscello will perform the story of “Fra’ Cipolla” [Friar Onion], inspired by the protagonist of the sixth day of The Decameron, in the main squares of Montepulciano at the following times: 5:00 p.m. in Piazza Grande; 6:00 p.m. in Piazza delle Erbe; 6:40 p.m. in the Churchyard of Chiesa di Sant’Agostino. Each performance lasts approximately 35 minutes.

Directed by Franco Romani, who is also the author, and accompanied by Paolo Papalini’s accordion, Stefano Bernardini, Marco Banini, Sabrina Dottori, Paolo Parissi, Claudio Bernetti, Stefano Banini, Elena Cappelli, Franco Capitini, Michele Morgantini, Andrea Paolessi, Elisabetta Canapini, Roberto De Pascali and Claudio Almasio will all take part in the performance.

The Bruscello Poliziano derives from an ancient form of folk theatre that was performed in the countryside of the Montepulciano territory. The Bruscellino performed in the squares of Montepulciano aims to bring back this tradition, where the theatre company would visit peasant farmyards with a tree branch on their heads, accompanied by an accordion and a violin. The stories were sung in octuplets and originated from the Bible, from ancient Rome or from epic poems, whose topics were well-known to all.  The scenery was symbolic, as were the costumes: short stories, few and well-defined characters and simplified storylines. The literary form was that of classic epic tales, in which each “bruscellante” [performer] expressed their basic feelings helped by the tone of their voice. Despite the poor means, the thirsty imagination of the peasants helped to open up an ideal world of beauty, justice and value, in which a profound cultural identity was established.