“It was a special evening, rich in meaning;” I felt enveloped in such a family atmosphere, also in the simple fact of sharing supper together, it made me feel so at home;” “It was a spectacular performance that responded to the needs of our time;” “My only regret is that of not having invited many more people:” “We shoot short films and know a bit about acting. The directing was phenomenal. Recitation of the lines with such quick rhythms enlivened the performance. It wasn’t heavy at all, even though the themes were very challenging!” These were but a few of many comments by actors and others who witnessed the performance on the evening of December 14, 2013 in a theatre of Prato.

Directors and actors explain: “The piece we chose is quite unique: The Visitor by the French Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, with its humour and irony and originality that challenges every viewer concerning fundamental questions of life. And so it was quite adapted to creating dialogue.”

The performance which was conceived as forum theatre was organised by a Focolare Movement’s dialogue group for persons with no religious affiliation in Prato, along with the non-profit organisation La Sveglia, which has been in operation for 35 years and brought this performance to the stage.

“The crucial point of the play, which is set in Vienna, Austria, in 1938, is the dialogue between Sigmund Freud and a mysterious visitor who is taken to be God: a dialogue that was never banal and which everyone could identify with.”

The audience sat mesmerized for two hours, enjoying the passionate interpretation of every word.

At the conclusion of the performance the forum was opened, and unfolded in a family atmosphere with reflections on the piece. People spoke who were already involved in this type of dialogue, but also others who were new to the experience.

Also those directly involved in the presentation of the comedy described what it meant to them, the genesis of taking to the stage and their enjoyment of presenting it within such a context.

The outcome was truly the result of everyone’s effort: dialogue across the board! Some worked on  publicity; some on the presentation of some thoughts from Chiara Lubich which were offered during the evening meal; some brought trucks for transporting props and scenery; a chef from the dialogue group prepared pasta sorrentino for the theatre company’s lunch; someone else took care of videotaping the event; others contacted the theatre and the SIAE (Italian Authors and Editors Society) for copyrights; not to mention those who contributed with their cultural expertise toward the success of the discussion at the end of the performance.

Given that the company has offered to give other performances, one viewer who is engaged in working with prisoners, proposed a presentation in a jail. Someone else suggested that La Sveglia stage other equally meaningful texts.