The Land of Swollen Faces

 The Land of Swollen Faces
Kairos Italy Theater 
The Tank
May 13, 2022 

Photo courtesy of Kairos Italy Theater

The Land of Swollen Faces, a one character play by Paolo Bignami and translated by Carlotta Brentan, played for eight performances at The Tank (312 W. 36 St., NYC).  It was presented by Kairos Italy Theater, and part of the 2022 Homecoming Season.  The play packs a potent message of the long term effects from an environmental disaster.  The modest production elements allowed the audience to focus all their attention on the solo actor, Joseph Franchini.  His performance is highly engaging.  He creates a character that pulls the audience into the story, leaving a powerful impression on everyone watching.

Wimpy (played by Joseph Franchini) is a young boy living with his family outside of Milan, Italy.  He enjoys lying on the grass and watching the clouds.  He has his favorites.  One reminds him of a woman, and the other reminds him of a trumpet player.  He notices that they appear in the sky at the same time every afternoon.  When he gets older, he starts working at the chemical factory.  At first the factory is a remarkable place, full of strange smells and rigid structures.  After an explosion in the factory, some of the workers start getting sick.  Their faces swell up.  Wimpy’s supervisor tries to get the factory inspected and shut down, but since profits are good and the town relies on the factory for employment, management refuses to listen.  After a second explosion, more workers get sick.  Wimpy notices that the clouds in the sky are changing, growing darker, and that his face is starting to swell.  One by one, the workers from the factory die.  It is discovered that the land, water, and air of Wimpy’s town have become toxic.

Joseph Franchini creates an endearing character.  His Wimpy is simple minded and delightful.  The audience is amused by him, and builds trust in him.  This pays off when the action of the story turns serious and dangerous.  It is the fondness the audience has for Wimpy that emotionally engages them, making them concerned for his well-being.  This is how Mr. Franchini pulls the audience into the serious message of the story, allowing them to fully understand the severity of the situation and become aware of the long-term dangers of environmental accidents. 

Unfortunately, the final performance of The Land of Swollen Faces was on May 15.  Click HERE to check out the Kairos Italy Theater website for upcoming performances.  If this performance is an example of the quality of their work, they will all be well worth seeing. 

Domenick Danza