L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURS DAY,   APRIL  4,   2013 PAGE  17 Oriana Fallaci: A Life of Glory ROBERTO NATALINI Early last month, the new play Fallaci made its world premiere at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. The presentation on the iconic Italian journalist will be on stage at the Roda Theatre through Sunday, April 21st. Written by Lawerence Wright, Pulizer Prize-winning author of the New York Times bestseller Going Clear, and directed by Oskar Eustis, the play has already fascinated admirers that had the privilege to assist at the mise en scène. Oriana Fallaci, who was born and died in the city of Florence (1930 – 2006), was not just a brilliant and well-known journalist, but also an author, and political interviewer. A former partisan during World War II, she had a long and successful journalistic career. Fallaci became famous worldwide for her coverage of war and revolution, and her interviews with many world leaders during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. After retirement, she returned to the spotlight, writing a series of articles and books critical of Islam, which aroused support as well as controversy. Known around the world for his essays in The New Yorker and his bestselling books about al Qaeda and Scientology, Pulitzer Prize-winner Lawrence Wright also pens provocative plays. He turned the spotlight on a fellow reporter and her fascinating contradictions with the debut of Fallaci at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Legendary Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci gained fame by grilling Henry Kissinger, Fidel Castro, Ayatollah Khomeini, Concetta Tomei portrays legendary journalist Oriana Fallaci in Berkeley Rep's world premiere of Fallaci by Pulitzer Prize-winner Lawrence Wright. Photo courtesy of kevinberne.com In fact, the playwright has set up this play as an interview, not surprisingly given the topic, a verbal duet sharply executed by (Concetta) Tomei and (Marjan) Neshat. It's a good format for exploring Fallaci's personal life—from teenage World War II anti-Fascist resistance fighter alongside her father, on through her prejudices and early celebrity as a dogged war correspondent— and for highlighting some of her most famous interviews. The play was described by San Jose Mercury News / Bay Area News Group as "…fascinating, provocative, Oriana Fallaci basks in the limelight once more in the new play Fallaci, now in its world premiere at Berkeley Rep. As astutely portrayed by the formidable Concetta Tomei, Fallaci comes across as half warrior, half diva." After retirement Fallaci, living in New York and in a house she owned in Tuscany, lectured at the University of Chicago, Yale rats." In a Wall Street Journal interview in 2005, said that Europe was no longer Europe but "Eurabia." The Rage and The Pride, and The Force of Reason both became best-sellers. Concetta Tomei portrays legendary journalist Oriana Fallaci (l to r) At Berkeley Rep, Marjan Neshat and Concetta Tomei star in the world premiere of "Fallaci" by Pulitzer Prize-winner Lawrence Wright. ( Kevin Berne/Berkeley Rep ) Moammar Qaddafi and other public figures who had to deal with her ferocious questioning. In this world premiere, a young woman interviews the fiery author at the end of her life, when she became a darling of the right. What begins as a discussion of journalism ends with two women exchanging life-changing lessons about destiny and empathy. This sizzling new play is staged in a masterly manner by renowned director Oskar Eustis. University, Harvard University, and Columbia University. After September 11, 2001, Fallaci wrote three books critical of Islamic extremists and Islam in general, and in both writing and interviews warned that Europe was too tolerant of Muslims. The first book was The Rage and the Pride (initially a four-page article in Corriere della Sera, the major national newspaper in Italy). She wrote that "…sons of Allah breed like Her writings have been translated into 21 languages including English, Spanish, French, Dutch, German, Urdu, Greek, Swedish, Polish, Hungarian, Hebrew, Croatian, Persian, Slovenian, Danish and Bulgarian. Known for its core values of imagination and excellence, as well as its educated and adventurous audience, the Berkeley Repertory Theatre has provided a portrayal of a legendary Italian public figure. CONSOLATO GENERALE D'ITALIA SAN FRANCISCO Console Generale: Mauro Battocchi Segreteria: Anna Clara Maselli (segr.sanfrancisco@esteri.it) 2590 Webster StreetSan Francisco, CA 94115 Telefono: (415) 292-9200 Fax: (415) 931-7205 E-mail: it.sanfrancisco@esteri.it ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI CULTURA Direttore: Paolo Barlera 814 Montgomery Street San Francisco, California 94133 Tel.: 415 788 7142 Fax: 1 415 788 6389 Email: contact.sanfrancisco@ esteri.it COM.IT.ES. - COMITATO DEGLI ITALIANI ALL'ESTERO President: Romana Bracco 870 Market Street, Suite 815San Francisco, CA 94102 Telephone: (415) 398-5312 Fax: (415) 398-3345 Email: SanFranComites@aol.com MUSEO ITALO AMERICANO Managing Director: Paula Bagnatori 204 Bay St # C, San Francisco, CA(415) 673-2200 Phone: (415) 673-2200 Fax: (415) 673-2292 E-mail: sfmuseo@sbcglobal.net ITALIAN AMERICAN SOCIAL CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO Manager: Julie Clima 25 Russia Ave.San Francisco, CA 94112 Phone: 415.585.8059 Fax: 415.585.8060 Email: info@iascsf.com SAN FRANCISCO ITALIAN ATHLETIC CLUB President: Al Cipollina Administrator: Rich Baldoni-Denney 1630 Stockton St., San Francisco, CA 94133 General Information: (415) 781-0165 Fax: (415) 781-0167 Office: (415) 781-0166 (Office hours are 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. M-F, Pacific Time), email: administration@sfiac.org ORDER SONS OF ITALy IN AMERICA State President: Maria Fassio Pignati State Recording Secretary: Arlene Nunziati (Rlene49@pacbell.net) 5051 Mission Street San Francisco, California 94112-3473 Phone: (415) 586-1316 Fax:(415) 586-4786 Email: sonsofitalyca@aol.com IL CENACOLO - ITALIAN CULTURAL CLUB President: Jim Boitano Membership Chair: Ronald Derenzi (membri@ilcenacolosf.org) Post Office Box 475119 San Francisco, CA 94147-5119 Email ilpresidente@ilcenacolosf.org ITALIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION President: Ken Borelli 425 No. Fourth StreetSan Jose, CA 95112www.iahfsj.org Phone: 408-293-7122. Fax: 408-293-7154. Facebook: Italian American Heritage Foundation ITALIAN COMMUNITy SERVICES President: Luigi E. Pinotti Executive Director: Anna Maria Pierini (ampierini @italiancs.com) 678 Green Street, San Francisco, Ca 94133 Tel. (415)362-6423 Fax (415) 362-6423 E-mail info@italiancs.com - www.italiancommunityservices.org ITALIAN AMERICAN FEDERATION OF THE EAST BAy President: Vince Cortese 5321 Claremont Ave. Oakland, CA 94618 Tel. (925) 679-1047, (650) 222-6641 Financial Secretary: Richard J. Vannucci 5072 Elrod Dr. Castro Valley, CA 94546-2418 Tel. (510) 581-9139

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