Eduardo Scarpetta, laid the foundations of modern Neapolitan theater. The theater man, progenitor of the Scarpetta-De Filippo dynasty, was considered a reformer, whose pièces gave birth to the genre later made to flourish by his sons, who were never recognized, Eduardo, Titina and Peppino De Filippo.

Born in 1853, he made his debut as a boy acting a few lines at the historic Neapolitan theater San Carlino but it was only later that he became part of a major crew.

His was an extended family, consisting of his wife Rosa De Filippo, married in 1876, and by her nine children, most of whom were born of other relationships.

Sciosciammocca and Misery and Nobility

The theater company in question was that of Antonio Petito, who in various farces, to the classic mask of Punchinello, began to accompany the character of Felice Sciosciammocca, a role sewn ad hoc on Scarpetta that allowed him to give his best as an actor. The name Sciosciammocca, literally "blowing in the mouth," alludes to the one who remains open-mouthed, in short, the scatterbrained and gullible type who always comes across intricate situations.

Once he founded his company, Scarpetta devoted himself to adapting French plays such as The scarfalietto and Nu turco napulitano, and then wrote original works, such as Misery and Nobility, from 1887, reportedly designed by some to star one of his sons. The play, however, was brought to success much later, in 1954, in the film version starring Totò who rushes, hungry, to a plate of noodles and puts them in his pocket.

The lawsuit with d'Annunzio and the end of the career

The long and fruitful career came to an abrupt end following a painful altercation with Gabriele d'Annunzio, on whose vicissitudes the film by Mario Martone. In 1904, after being sabotaged by some D'Annunzio fanatics, Scarpetta staged a parody of one of the poet's works. Shortly thereafter, he received a lawsuit for plagiarism, the lawsuit of which, a few years later, left him with a bitter taste in his mouth, but little harm: he won it, which made all subsequent parodies in the history of entertainment legitimate. Discover the itinerary that retraces his footsteps in Campania's capital city.

Scarpetta Palace in Chiaia

The tour could only begin at the Scarpetta Palace in Chiaia, desired by Scarpetta himself. This imposing, four-story building is located at 4 Via Vittoria Colonna, near the Sannazzaro Theater. Built in the late 19th century by the same architect as the Bellini, the palace was inhabited by several families of artists. Today it is home to the Eduardo De Filippo Foundation, open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Villa La Santarella at Vomero

The second stage of the itinerary is located at the Vomero, about a 20-minute walk from Scarpetta Palace. In 1889, the author had an elegant villa built from which he could see the sea. From Via Cimarosa, which can be reached by funicular railway, you can admire the Art Nouveau buildings between Via Palizzi and Via Luigia Sanfelice, until you come across a sort of small neo-Renaissance-style castle, on the facade of which stands the unmistakable granite inscription, "Here I laugh!" In the hallway of the palace, there is a life-size statue of Scarpetta. The playwright wanted to move to this neighborhood to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city; famous were the parties held here on the occasion of his daughter Maria's name day and the fireworks displays visible from all parts of the city.

A few years later the villa was sold because his wife Rosa was frightened by the surrounding silence; Vomero at that time was not yet as densely populated as it is today.

The director Mario Martone, who has already shown a special attachment to the Neapolitan tradition several times in his career, made Here I laugh, a tribute to the father of Neapolitan theater where he recounts Eduardo Scarpetta's last years on stage, played by Toni Servillo.

In the period from the second half of the 19th century to the cinematograph, actors were called "mattatori" because they played the role of both performer and writer of texts and director. Scarpetta died in 1925 and today rests in the chapel reserved for the de Filippo, Scarpetta and Viviani in the Poggioreale cemetery in Naples.