Martinić's play premieres in Italian at Rijeka's HNK

The Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka recently staged the premiere of Ivor Martinić's acclaimed drama, "Mio figlio cammina solo un po’ lentamente," translated as "My Son Walks Only a Little Slower." The performance, directed by Marcela Serli, was the final premiere of the season for the theatre's Italian Drama company.

This international co-production involved the Italian Drama of the Rijeka National Theatre, CSS Teatro Stabile di Innovazione del Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Teatri Stabil Furlan. The play presents a powerful, emotional, and often humorous narrative about a family confronting their vulnerabilities, unspoken truths, and the universal need for love. It resonated with the audience through its depiction of relatable family conflicts, misunderstandings, and hopes.

The story centers on the relationships among family members gathered for the 25th birthday of the son, Branko. Using contemporary stage language, the production delves into themes of disability, aging, and familial expectations. A unique dimension is added by its multilingual nature, incorporating elements of the Fiuman and Furlan dialects alongside Italian.

Director Marcela Serli described the play as building a "changeable space" inhabited by nine performers who convey the fragility of modern families – scattered, loud, tender, cruel, comical, and desperate. She stated that directing the play means guiding the audience through a ritual, an impossible birthday that mirrors moments when families attempt to connect without knowing how.

The cast includes actors from the partner theaters, Rita Maffei and Massimo Somaglino, alongside members of the Italian Drama ensemble. Following its Rijeka performances, the play is set to open the theater season in Udine this autumn.

“

Directing the play 'My Son Walks Only a Little Slower' means building a changeable space, inhabited by nine performers who bring to the stage the fragility of today's families: scattered, loud, tender, cruel, comical, and desperate. It means guiding the audience through a ritual, an impossible birthday that becomes a mirror of all those moments when we tried to be a family, without actually knowing how.