The Syndicate
The Syndicate by Eduardo De Filippo, published by Bloomsbury Academic on March 1, 2012, is a drama that explores the complexities of morality and justice in Naples. This edition, consisting of 112 pages, presents a narrative centered around Antonio Barracano, a man who, after escaping a murder conviction, uses his wealth and influence to impose his own brand of justice on the city’s criminals. The play unfolds as a respectable young man seeks Don Antonio’s counsel on how to deal with his father, leading to a darkly comedic clash between the respectable and the criminal elements of society.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of themes woven throughout the play, as De Filippo delves into the intersections of power, fear, and familial obligation. The story navigates the underbelly of Naples, where Don Antonio operates with authority and cunning, offering a unique perspective on the moral dilemmas faced by individuals in desperate situations. This translation by Mike Poulton makes the work accessible to contemporary audiences, ensuring that the sharp wit and poignant moments resonate with readers today.
Official synopsis Publisher
Smuggled out of Naples in his youth after stabbing a brutal night-watchman to death, Antonio Barracano returned home in the 1960s as a wealthy man. He used his newfound status to quash his murder conviction, and was soon feared but respected throughout the city. Don Antonio has made it his life’s work to bring rough justice to the criminals of Naples who otherwise have no fear of the law. He rules the city’s underbelly with a rod of iron.
The play begins when a respectable but poor young man who has resolved to murder his father comes to Don Antonio for advice. The Neapolitan ‘Godfather’ emerges from the shadows to make the young man’s father an offer he can’t refuse. The comedy grows blacker as ‘respectable’ Naples collides with its criminal underworld.
A dark comedy of pathos and farce by one of Italy’s pre-eminent dramatists of the twentieth century, Eduardo De Filippo’s The Syndicate (Il sindaco del rione Sanità) is made newly accessible and contemporary by this translation by Mike Poulton.
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