CABOT VOYAGES

[Shemina Keshvani]

Media Contact:  Shemina Keshvani                    For immediate release
                (416)-968-1942                        Monday, May 12,1997

                           THE CAMPIELLO PLAYERS PRESENT
                                THE CABOT VOYAGES
                        Written and Directed by Mark Ceolin

In honour of the 500th Anniversary of the landing of Giovanni Caboto (John
Cabot) in Newfoundland, The Campiello Players present The Cabot Voyages, a
play that analyses Canadian history from different cultural perspectives
through a deconstruction of the circumstances leading to Cabotos arrival
in Canada. In addressing the question Who is Caboto?, the play in essence
asks Who are Canadians?

The Cabot Voyages, a comedy in three acts, focuses on the lives of Caboto,
his wife Mattea and their children. The play concentrates on Cabotos
arrival in Canada as an achievement which initiates an unprecedented mass
migration of culturally diverse peoples. Caboto thus becomes, by
definition, the first and quintessential Canadian immigrant, claiming a
place in a new and foreign land. Using a present day mirror-image Caboto
family, the play looks critically at both the experiences of Canadas first
immigrant family--the Cabotos--and the dilemmas facing the majority of
todays Canadians in the tension between their ancestral roots and adopted
homeland.

In the spirit of Cabotos voyage the play is presented as a cross-Atlantic
collaboration between the Canadian Campiello Players and the Italian
acting company Attori in Corso. It also uses, in part, characterizations
derived from Commedia DellArte traditions. Commedia DellArte, popular in
Europe from the 16th century through the 18th century, is a form of
physical comedy generally performed in a public square.  The Cabot Voyages
also features a set design by Toronto architect, Karen Cvornyek and
lighting design by Sharon Reid.

Writer/Director Mark Ceolin has extensively studied, trained and performed
in Canada, Italy and Japan. In 1993 he directed Carlo Goldonis 18th
century play Il Campiello at the Robert Gill Theatre in Toronto. He also
wrote and directed Ritual in Progress which premiered at Torontos Festival
of Original Theatre in 1996.

The Cabot Voyages premieres at the 1997 International Drama Festival in
St. Johns Newfoundland, an event opening the Cabot Year Festivities. The
play also runs at Torontos Tarragon Theatre from August 21 through 31,
with a preview on August 20. The Campiello Players will also be featured
at the Italian Pavilion at the Canadian National Exhibition from August 15
to September 1, where they will perform a series of Commedia Dell Arte
skits about Caboto.