the king’s garden
in event of rain, the performance will take place at Auditorium Biagio Marin
The main fairy tale, which appears in Pitré’s collection Novelle Popolari Toscane, is extremely well-known in Tuscany and also features in other collections. It is performed in the style of a farce with a light-hearted tone, somewhere between the grotesque and the clownish. Children will find the Fairies’ song captivating and will remember it effortlessly.
A comical tale of two hunchbacked old men and the Forest Fairies. One of the hunchbacks is kind, and comes to terms with his deformity and poverty with peace of mind, whilst the other is rude and embittered by life. The Kind Hunchback sets off in search of fortune, meets three fairies and is rewarded for completing their song. The Rude Hunchback, on the other hand, comes off worse: he messes up the song and offends the fairies. The three old women punish him harshly by doubling the size of his hump. Accompanying this farce, narrated by the Grandmother, are:
‘The Princess and the Flower’: A fairy tale of love and magic, written entirely in verse by Laura Poli.
‘Petuzzo’: The famous nursery rhyme, brought to life and sung as an Allegro finale.
By Laura Poli and Enrico Spinelli
Based on Laura Poli and Tuscan tradition
Puppets by Pupi di Stac
Fairies Massimo Mattioli
Puppets Roberta Socci
Scenes Massimo Mattioli
Directed by Giulio
The Compagnia Pupi di Stac was founded by Carlo Staccioli (1915–1971) in Florence in 1946. Initially supported by many talented collaborators—including Paolo Poli himself—“Stac” formed an artistic partnership with Laura Poli (who joined the company in 1958) that refined a unique theatrical style. Following the founder’s death, Laura Poli, assisted by her son Enrico, continued the company’s work by focusing on researching, collecting, and adapting ancient Tuscan folk tales, many of which are still in their repertoire today.
All performances last about 60 minutes over two acts and are spoken and sung live, accompanied by recorded background music. The wooden carved puppets (pupi) are about 60 centimeters tall and, uniquely in the Italian tradition, feature full bodies. In short, they are ‘stringless marionettes’ operated from below or, if you prefer, ‘puppets with legs’—just like their most famous brother, Pinocchio.
The booths (baracche)—true miniature theatres complete with curtains, side wings, and backdrops—feature two performance levels: the main stage where the puppets can walk, and an upper level where they appear in a more traditional way. The direct dialogue with the audience and the fast-paced theatrical rhythm lie at the heart of a lively and unpredictable narrative: everyone, from young children to adults, watches spellbound and fully engaged from the beginning right through to the inevitable happy ending.
