The art of translating plays for the stage is a delicate and often thankless task, but it can make or break a theatrical masterpiece. Monica Capuani, a leading translator bringing international theatre to Italian audiences, embodies this role. In her latest project, she tackles the translation of Marina Carr's 'Mirandolina', a reimagining of Carlo Goldoni's 18th-century Italian comedy 'La locandiera'. This translation is a full circle, starting with a literal English translation of Goldoni's work, which Carr then reworked and updated. Capuani's challenge was to restore the text into Italian while preserving the linguistic nuances and emotional depth Carr introduced.
Capuani's collaboration with Carr was intense and meticulous. They spent countless hours on tiny details, ensuring the rhythm, individual words, and weight of phrases were just right. This level of precision impressed even the actors, who are not accustomed to such detailed work. The result is a translation that does justice to Carr's brilliant and provocative play.
The play's themes of female fear and vulnerability resonate deeply with Italian audiences, especially given the recent murder of Giulia Cecchettin, a 22-year-old university student, which dominated headlines and sparked a national conversation about femicide. Capuani notes that the adaptation inevitably acquired new resonances, as some members of the cast were also involved in a film adaptation of the victim's father's book.
However, the translator's role is often undervalued and underpaid. Capuani argues that the profession is systematically undervalued, with translators often omitted from play programs. She worries about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on translation, comparing it to the internet's effect on journalism. AI can produce translations quickly and cheaply, but it lacks the context and understanding that human translators possess. Capuani believes that AI should be a tool to assist translators, not replace them.
The human translator's role is akin to that of a skilled artisan, crafting a masterpiece with meticulous attention to detail. As Sonia Folin, an interpreter, suggests, we seek human connection and empathy in times of crisis. In the context of translation, this means that the audience should never have to pause and think about the translation; it should be seamless and invisible. Yet, this very invisibility contributes to the undervaluation of the profession.
In conclusion, the art of translating plays is a complex and essential process that requires a deep understanding of language, culture, and context. Monica Capuani's work on 'Mirandolina' is a testament to the skill and dedication required to bring international theatre to a new audience. As the world grapples with the impact of AI, the value of human translation becomes even more apparent, reminding us of the importance of preserving our cultural heritage through the careful and thoughtful work of translators.
