"I'm 70 on the outside, but inside I feel like I'm 14-15 years old." Scratchy, histrionic, Luca Barbareschi smiles in the large studio set up for him like a New York loft.
On the walls, between the live band and the audience, there are portraits of Grace Jones, Andy Warhol, Jimi Hendrix. "My idols," he says, "from when we were free to say what you wanted. There was no cancel culture, no political correctness.
You could read Ovid. Today, metamorphoses are forbidden in American universities. But what can a generation that grows up like this do?" This is where his journey starts again with In Barba a tutto, the second season of the Rai Cultura talk show created by Verve Media Company, which from January 14 brings him back to Rai3, for six Sundays in the late evening. "An appointment of serenity," he promises, where "I am free to talk about what I want, how I want." Starting with Artificial Intelligence and aesthetics, in the first episode, with guests Serena Rossi, Vera Gemma and the singer Andrea Settembre. "There are those who have the Pope, blessed is he. I chose the Holy Spirit," smiles Fabrizio Frizzi during the recording in the Studios, referring to Fabio Fazio's competition. And as is in his spirit, he does not spare himself. "Pandoro-gate? I was on the side of the panettone." But also, on the international scene: "If you put a dollar in a place of worship instead of God, then we have a problem."
Then, with the cameras off, he tells his story. "I wanted to get back on TV - he confesses - I don't know what I like to do the most, whether to produce a Polansky film, direct, act. All. But TV has given me so much. Not only the pop one like The Big Bluff, but also the 1470 episodes of We Were So Loved. I watch a lot of it.
Fiorello is my myth. Then there's Amadeus, Virginia Raffaele. For Checco Zalone I would throw myself into the fire. And it's not true that fear goes away with time: tonight in the dressing room I was very excited. It's also a crazy way to help people, because today no one explains anything anymore." Then we move on to the "hot" topics. "Politics? Grillo has enormous hubris, but he hasn't studied the Greeks enough to know that his nemesis comes next. No," he continues, "I will not invite politicians on the show.
I don't want to talk about politics or parties. I have come out enriched by my experience as a parliamentarian. I've met some great people, but I'm not a politician, I'm a bearer of ideas. I'm not excited by the idea of power." And then, "as soon as you invite a politician on TV, the fight starts, as if the person in front of them is an enemy, not one who thinks differently.
When you bring cheap politics, you bring backbiting." Instead, he says, "I want to invite people who will enrich me. I'm more interested in scientists and artists." Who, then? "Kevin Spacey. He says 'yes' one day and 'no' one day - he reveals - When I shot The Penitent I wanted him as the protagonist, but (because of the sex gate that had overwhelmed the actor) none of our colleagues wanted to work with him. He would have done it better than I did. And today he is acquitted."
But what will Barbareschi never be able to do without? "Of the theatre," he assures, "because it allows you to be someone different every night." As for the Elysée Palace, his theatre in Rome, "it is open, not closed: we host conventions and seminars". But to make a season of shows, "either they steal others or I have to become Mandrake, because if I don't receive a euro I would have to sell tickets for 12 thousand euros. The only one who helped us was Giorgio Napolitano." As for the news of possible new funding, including from the Lazio Region, "I keep reading ads in the newspapers: if someone wants to give me money, welcome.
But I don't want them to help the Elysée, but I want them to help Italian theatre. Make a project on Italian theatre, make a business plan."
All rights reserved © Copyright ANSA