Using the Italian title for Marco Polo's account of his travels in the orient, the ever congenial Marco Paolini has created a Venetian notebook of character sketches of his beloved city. Except for the tragicomic attempt by the northern separatists to take over the belltower in St. Mark's Square, no aspect of the ironies of Italian politics as they concern Venice seems untouched.
Both the natives and tourists -- especially the ever-present Japanese -- get their share of good-natured ribbing. Paolini even wrings humor out of reciting curiosities and plain facts. And finally the Biennale, Venice's alternate-year expo of the latest art trends, gets a deserved comeuppance.
Paolini relies less on mime and movement than the typically-Italian, animated delivery, but his contained gestures are closer to acting for film and television than the stage. Nonetheless, his gentle way has won over many audiences in the North of Italy that never tire of hearing that soothing Venetian dialect. Dressed as Marco Polo,Paolini makes a serene guide to La Serenissima.
A band consisting of a bass player, two violinists doubling on guitars, and one percussionist ably provide the background music. Paolini's other hit, Bestiamo venteto ("AVenetian Bestiary"), continues to make the rounds of regional theaters in the Veneto region. These spaces benefit from coordinated programming under the ArteVen umbrella.
