«I am a taxi driver in the theatre, in life and also in interviews. I’m on my stomach and I don’t care about the politically correct. I address the people directly and politicians like to be a guest on my programs.” talking is barbara d’Urso, protagonist of the television afternoons of Canale 5 and now, since Valentine’s Day of this year, also back on the theater stage thanks to the first female version of Taxi a due piazza, a comedy directed by Ray Cooney, brought to Italy by Johnny Dorelli and now adapted by Chiara Noschese, who wanted a woman with two husbands as the main interpreter of the amorous pinwheels. Alongside d’Urso is Rosalia Porcaro and then, in the roles of different husbands and lovers, Franco Oppini and Giampaolo Gambi. Without spoiling too much, the show is already sold out at Milan’s Teatro Nazionale and will be back on stage in Montecatini, Cassano Magnago, Alessandria, Bari and Bologna in March, then in Verona and Bellinzona in April.
Barbara, how was it going back to the theater after 15 years?
“Amazing. I didn’t expect such a huge success from people, from an audience that couldn’t stop laughing and applauding. A satisfaction that fills my famous heart. It was a bit risky. It’s a play that the unattainable Johnny Dorelli , the male protagonist with two women, for years. It was completely rewritten. At the National Theater we had more than a thousand spectators at each repetition, who laughed so much that they interrupted us fifty times and forced us on stage with laughter and applause. And then you say: well, I won”.
She is the protagonist of this female adaptation of a comedy of misunderstandings. But do you think it’s really possible to fall in love with two men? And has this ever happened to her?
“It’s possible. It’s not part of my way of life. I could never fall in love with two people or be with a man who is in love with two people. But I understand it’s possible. On the other hand, the message is this Comedy that exudes never judging Allowing people the freedom to be who they are Also in the original play Johnny Dorelli, a lying cab driver, pretended to be gay to save himself Here we go I also go back to my battles. In the 80’s and 90’s the gay man was portrayed as a cartoon with little wobblers. Conversely, the protagonist has to pretend to be a lesbian. It’s not easy to portray this in a farce without being politically incorrect. We do it by pretending to be butterflies without making spots. It would have been easy but also terrifying to pretend to be a trucker. We make people laugh by also wearing a bo e economy of freedom and respect. Everyone can have their own thoughts, but not judge them».
In the comedy there is a beautiful female complicity with Rosalia Porcaro. On the other hand, in the entertainment world, it seems impossible for leading actresses to get along, even on television. Is that just gossip or is there some truth to it?
“I don’t know. I respect everyone. There are people I respect a lot, others I respect a lot. But in general I hang out with different people in my life. From an architect to a mechanic. I tend not to change to take care of those who do the same job as me…».
Returning to the theater is a decision born of that little extra free time, especially on weekends. Don’t you really miss Sundays on TV?
“Right now I’m doing so many things that I don’t miss it. I’m calm and fine the way I am. I have a show that goes crazy every afternoon. The public stayed at Pomeriggio 5 during the Sanremo week as well. I’ve wanted to go back to the theater for a long time. Those who take the stage have a very different adrenaline than those who watch TV. At the end of the show there are always 80/100 people waiting for me, even if it rains. You understand, see and feel the people. My life is like this, I never stop. Now there is also the podcast Amiche mie, the MetaDurso (Meta TV experiment in Augmented Reality ed). Who knows what else might happen to me. I am a woman who always has surprises in store…».
Return by taxi… Milan is her adopted country, Naples is her birthplace. If you could choose which of the two squares you would like to be a taxi driver in?
«Naples, because it’s my city. But also Milan, because there is less traffic. I would suffer less.” (smiles)
When it comes to your legendary d’Urso interviews with politicians, are you more inspired by Gruber-Floris-Mentana or the taxi driver Alberto Sordi?
«I’m more taxinara… In life and also in interviews. They are nothing compared to those who conduct political talks, they have exceptional professionalism. I’m more of a belly. I speak to ordinary people, to families. As I always did when interviewing politicians. It has to be said that politicians like to come to me. I’m proud of it.”
Is there an interview, a case, a story that you would treat completely differently than before?
“Honestly not. I regret nothing.”
Giorgia Meloni has interviewed her several times. How do you rate her as Prime Minister?
«Giorgia Meloni is a champion, a girl who came out of nowhere, comes from Garbatella, has always been involved in politics and has so far remained true to herself and her ideas. Certainly the road is long and we’ll see what happens. In any case, regardless of the political side, I can tell you that I am glad to have a female prime minister. I think it’s a big step forward for Italy.”
And can you think of the new Pd boss Elly Schlein?
‘I would be very interested in interviewing you as I have done with everyone else. Also and above all because of the proximity to the civil society issues that I have been fighting for for years. I already take this opportunity to invite you as soon as we resume the political interviews in the afternoon 5».
Mara Maionchi has cleaned up the word “old” by making it a protagonist also in the world of entertainment. Do you think there is an age when you grow old?
“For me, there is only youth and old age in my head. Age is only mental. I don’t look at physical youth and old age, I find it marginal compared to mental. There may be people who are 105 years old who are mentally younger than others who are only 30 years old…”.