Mike Dorey
From the mind of Gianfilippo Maria Falsina Lamberti comes three epic tales of brothels in Milan, Italy. Hosted by the aforementioned, the production in split into three stories based on mostly real events from the 19th through to the early 20th century.
The first covers the story of the butcher, a known killer who seeks to hide in the brothel from the authorities. Starring Giula Rachele Mazza and Lorenzo Andrea Paolo Balducci who command the stage with expert stage presence and marvellous comedic and dramatic performances. Mazza plays a new employee at the brothel, excited to work but also nervous about the duties she is expected to perform, she plays the excitement and enthusiasm well against her clear hesitancy to commit fully to her new job role. Balducci is an incredibly intimidating presence in this story, making the audience shift uncomfortably in their seats as he threatens the girls of the brothel.
The second story surrounds a mysterious client, also played by Balducci and stars Michelangiola Barbieri Torriani alongside him as an employee of the brothel who very quickly falls in love with this client and makes it her personal mission to make him feel the same. Torriani is a master of comedy both verbally and in physicality, she is a very engaging performer, and this story really highlights her talents.
The third and final story surrounds a scandal involving police and other figures of authority utilising the brothels services of male prostitutes, only for the same police officers to conduct raids and arrests on these institutions for the very same practices they were apart of. A hypocrisy only too common in this world. The story stars Lamberti himself as a male prostitute and the tragedy that unfolds as a result of the police officer’s betrayal of their trust and confidentiality.
All three stories, whilst sharing the same quartet of actors, are very different in their tone and approach to making the audience think. The production as a whole is framed as a light-hearted and titillating comedy, but the reality is very different. All four actors have remarkable chemistry and are very engaging performers individually as well as an ensemble. The absurdity of the comedy is punctuated by genuinely tear-jerking moments of tragedy and loss as the reality and danger of working in these institutions at the time is explored in explicit detail. It is a truly remarkable show and a thoroughly recommended watch by many.
Whilst the Beseda stage is a larger fringe venue and I can completely understand wanting to take advantage of that, several key moments of the show were shielded from my view by the pillars at either side of the stage. Sadly, from where I was sat, I simply couldn’t see any action taking place upstage-right. In future I implore the team at Grand Guignol de Milan to consider reblocking certain scenes for different venues and making sure everything can be seen by the audience. I shouldn’t have to strain my neck to see what’s happening when I’m in the front row (incidentally I still couldn’t see what was happening at certain moments when I fully leaned over the person to my right to catch a glimpse).
This is a petty gripe of mine, and in no way detracts from my overall sentiment. This show is powerful, funny and engaging. It will make you laugh, cry and everything in between. This production and this company are truly a force to be reckoned with, whilst there were some hiccups on the night, it did little to detract from my overall enjoyment of the show, which is how I like to base my reviews. The companies heightened and absurdist performances techniques were a clear hit with the crowd. There is further potential here and I am excited to see where this company goes next in this production and others.
Recommended Drink: Anything Italian, lets keep on theme here. Perhaps a smooth Inzolia to refresh yourself between the heavier moments.
The Prague Fringe Festival and thus the run of Tales of the Boudoir has concluded, however they promise to return to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year with new stories…
Freddie Haberfellner
Miriam Trujillo
Oli Fuller
