After the success of Cruda e Nuda, the artist returns to the theater with Galattica: a comic odyssey in the solar system between irony, music and emotions
In dazzling form in Star Trek uniform, Dr. Spock Vulcan salute (that of “long life and prosperity” so to speak), noble and decisive look. This is how Alice Mangione looks on the billboard of her new show: Galactica – Comic Odyssey for humans out of orbit, written by her with the complicity of Manuela Mazzocchi, directed by Enrico Ballardini and Savà Produzioni Creative.
After the success of Raw and Nakedher first solo show, the multifaceted artist returns to the theater with a new show, telling the obsessions and small absurdities of everyday life with irony and irreverence.
“There is a moment when, to understand something about yourself, you have to look up.“And that’s literally what Alice did, who in the company of a strange navigator, leads the audience into space, between planets and constellations. Each particle tells a fragment of life, throwing questions, contrasts and daily perplexities into orbit.
Alice, what’s the difference with the previous show Raw and Naked?
“In the previous show on stage there were tarot cards: each card that was turned over and chosen by the audience was a starting point for a sketch. There was a container inside which very different pieces were inserted, a more stand-up show. Galattica, on the other hand, was built all together, it’s an hour and a half of totally new material. The script was thought out just like a theater show. And I’m really curious to understand how it will be received.”
After the tarot, you chose to land in the cosmos
“Galactic was an intuition, it’s a rather decisive declaration of intent. All the stand-up comedians go around Europe with their shows, I haven’t been called yet, so you know what? I’m going to the Galaxy! I chose to explore the universe on a planetary journey, alongside a hidden accomplice who won’t be on stage, but will still be very present, my space navigator called Syria, who takes me between the different planets. Each planet naturally has its own characteristics. The aim is to land on each of them to understand if my place could be there or what I need to solve before leaving it.”
Is there a planet you identify with?
“Mars, without any doubt! It is said to be the male planet, but in the show I tell you that I identify a lot with Mars: it is the planet of action, of doing, they also call it war, but it is more the planet of things that begin. In this regard, however, I have a small problem: I start everything, I love starting things, but then I don’t finish anything. I am inconclusive because I get bored quickly. I don’t close things, I don’t even close the jam jars!”
The official debut will be on November 27th in Botticino, in the province of Brescia
“There will be a preview in Cava Manara, a small village in the province of Pavia, which professionally speaking is almost home for me, and then I will officially debut in Botticino, where last year I had one of the longest evenings of my life, with a show that lasted more than three hours! However, I would like to underline that they did the kidnapping to me and not vice versa. I didn’t force anyone to stay!
And then there will be dates all over Italy, including Prato, Cagliari, Milan at the Manzoni Theatre, Genoa, Padua and Bologna.”
The show was written in collaboration with Manuela Mazzocchi
“We have been working together since 2019, there is an incredible harmony between us, especially from a writing point of view. We really hit it off, and he’s the best sidekick I could have had. I work better under stress and I’m finishing writing the last lines these days – much to Manuela’s disquiet. She is much more organised, I came up with the theme and the structure, and Manu, we can say, thinks about closing the jam jars that I leave open.”
You are a multifaceted artist, you act, sing, conduct…
“I must say that this versatility is often criticized as a difficulty in being identified in a specific profession. It’s harder to sell, but this won’t stop me from continuing to do the things that entertain me and make me feel good. I love singing pop songs – there’s a Spice Girl inside me – in fact in this show I sing, there will be music. We’ll end up on the planet, or rather on the most stressful satellite of all, the Moon, which has always revolved around us and makes us do what it pleases. It’s her the one responsible for our stress and cortisol levels; and since I cannot give the public a remedy, I will offer them an anthem.”
I mean, you’re really excited about Galattica
“You should always leave a certain distance from your shows, but I declare that I am madly in love with it! It was born from the intuition of an interstellar journey and then building a solar system with an intense and exciting final landing. It is nice to see how all the initial ideas have materialized in dialogues with a profound and emotional as well as funny aspect.”
