A psychiatrist is faced with a professional and moral crisis when it comes to testifying at a trial against one of his patients, accused of manslaughter. “Il Penitente” is American dramatist David Mamet’s last work and describes the disturbing panorama of a society so deeply altered in its balance, that the individual integrity, rather than being one’s pride, becomes an all-out life-devastating aberration.

Blemished with homophobia, ‘the penitent’ suffers a real media and judicial pillory and is slammed under the spotlight, suffering the momentary disapproval of a fickle public, constantly looking for a new culprit to lynch. The press influence, the exploitation of the law, the uselessness of psychiatry, these are the themes of a play that takes place between the work environment and the protagonist’s private sphere. The social demolition of an individual inevitably hits his marriage. A drama described in eight scenes, eight acts of confrontation between husband and wife, featuring the public prosecutor and the lawyer. Until the final twist.

“I chose this work by Mamet – explained Luca Barbareschi – because it is a lucid analysis of the altered relation between communication, spirituality and justice in contemporary society. The ‘Penitent’ is a victim of massmedia-driven inquisition.”

Phone reservation available, please call Botteghino Telefonico Regionale del Teatro Stabile dell’Umbria 075/57542222, on weekdays from 16 to 20, till the day before the show. Reserved tickets will need to be fetched not any later than half an hour prior to the show. Tickets can also be purchased on-line on www.teatrostabile.umbria.it.