Always find yourself mixing up Medici history? It’s not your fault, given their habit of naming everyone Cosimo. If you’d like to know a bit more about this family, there’s a new show in town that might help. The Medici Dynasty Show uses an ‘edutainment’ formula that combines an interesting location (the San Giovannino dei Padri Scolopi library in the San Lorenzo neighbourhood), music and lights, projections and two actors with rigorously researched history, distilled into a fun-filled hour.
A synopsis of the plot: on June 24, 1737, a conversation was held between Gian Gastone, the last grand duke of the Medici Dynasty, best known for his deviant sexual escapades, and his pious sister Anna Maria Luisa, widow of Johann Wilhelm II Elector of the Palatinate, whom Gian Gastone had banished from Palazzo Pitti 20 years prior for her role in arranging his disastrous marriage that produced no heirs. The perpetually drunk Gian Gastone is on his deathbed (indeed, he would die two weeks later) and the two discuss how they can protect the family’s patrimony from being sold off by the Lorraine family. Reviewing their family’s many contributions to art, science and culture, they come up with what would be called the Family Pact, which ensured that these treasures would remain in Florence for us today.
In fact, it wouldn’t surprise us if the Medici coat of arms starts to appear all over Florence in the next few months—thanks to the Medici Dynasty Show and its innovative approach to theatre.
The show will run five days a week starting April 29, 2015, and costs 29 euro for adults, 17 euro for students (children under 12 free).
For information, see medicidynasty.com
SPECIAL: 10% discount for bookings until June 30th. Use CODE: TFMDS2015
