The three Little Pigs

The show staged at the Mongiovino Theater is based on the traditional English fairy tale published around 1843 by O.J. Halliwell and by the latter inserted within his Nursery Rhymes and Nursery Tales, but present for a long time in oral culture.

The company of puppeteer-actors was inspired by this first version of Halliwell, which tells the story of the three little brothers struggling with the ferocious big bad wolf. As is known, to defend themselves from their archenemy, the three little pigs each build a small house; but, while the smallest pig builds it with straw and the middle one with wood because they are both in a hurry and want to play, the older brother, wiser than the others, foreseeing the cunning of the wolf, builds a solid brick house and eventually manages to defeat him. While the two smaller ones pay for their superficiality when the wolf eats them greedily, destroying the houses in one breath.

The fairy tale thus teaches in a fun but also dramatic way, especially to younger children, that one must not be lazy and listless because it could be very dangerous and that, instead, a job combined with the ability to be foresight can lead to salvation in difficult situations. The story therefore presents in a metaphorical form the theme of the child's growth and maturation thanks to experience.

Directed by Danilo Conti and Antonella Piroli, with Alessandro Accettella and Stefania Umana, music by Davide Castiglia and scenes by Tanti Cosi Progetti.

Photo credits: courtesy of Mongiovino Theater official site