Interview: Elizabeta Gerama
Tell me about yourself
“My name is Elizabeta, I am from Italy, and I have one son who is working in Law. Me my husband and son currently live in Queens New York and we are both retired. We first came to Manhattan and from there moved to Queens Forrest Hills. Growing up in Italy around 1943 in wasn’t easy. Getting a job was difficult, getting money and making a future for your children was not easy at all.
How was Italian Theater expressed during your time?
“Well in that time we had magnificent actors and actresses in our time, 1943, Vittorio Gassman, Renato Salvatori, Aldo Fabrizi and many more, these were before more modern Actors such as Roberto Bengini who plays in a movie called “Life is Beautiful” and in Italy Translated La Bella e Vita. Our actors were extraordinary, powerful and talented. But the element of the movies today and before are totally different, much more sense of professionalism and respect for the films they made at least for my opinion”
How was Italian Theater or anything Italian related shows that you have visited in New York?
“Little Italy was much bigger in the time I first came to America which was 1979, me and my husband seen shows at a place downtown called Ferrara with singers that sang beautifully. They used violins, Guitar but also an Italian Instrument called the Mandolin, this instrument was used mostly. “I and my husband would always go to a place located on 72nd street that sold pastries for this small theater houses, they were connected in terms of business and we took the trip uptown for desserts and coffee ground from Italy”
What do you love about your Italian Tradition in relation to Theater?
“Well in Italy, parts of the south they feel as if some of our Culture and Tradition can be portrayed Wrongly, as for Dean Martin, that’s what they call his last name here, his actual full name is Dino Paul Crocetti, places in Italy didn’t respect him for making it Martin, they wanted him to keep and show pride for his last name, but that is some Italians, very prideful and stubborn at times. “My favorite was seeing Silvana Mangano in that time, She is from Rome like me and her story is unique and beautiful in its way, she grew up during world war 2, and train as a dancer, then she got more involved with the arts and began to grow as an actress”
What are some of your Favorite Theater shows, Films that are related to Italian Theater?
“Well for me I have so few, for my husband so many, La Bella A vita is a classic for the both of us, and Mean Streets which is a Martin Scor Film, also Cinema Paradiso who the director was Giuseppe Tornatore. A movie that I can relate to in many ways.
Follow up Question – “What about today’s movies that portray Italian Culture”
“They are not bad, Robert Deniro is magnificent, and he is a delight to watch”
Have you seen Bronx Tale, Mean Streets, The Godfather, Sopranos, Gangster related stories, is this an important element of Italian Theater related to Gangs/ Family?
“Well of course, ahah, Family is Italy and Italy is Family, but the American Screen Writers fabricate the Italian Gangster part, in Italy of course there are Mafias, all around the world there are, but Theater people brought this small element of Italian Toughness to America, Now Americans think we are tough and prideful and to not mess with, this is not true”