Paolo Poli
Paolo Poli (1926-2016) was an Italian actor, singer, director and author. With a very personal stylistic signature, he is the representative of a theater that is at once biting and mild, refined and irreverent, taking its cues from operetta, revue, vaudeville, avanspettacolo and variety but which is, nevertheless, difficult to frame in definitions of genre and content. He joined the Compagnia dell’Alberello at a very young age, which boasts Ferruccio Soleri among its members. He then moved to Rome, where he worked as a film and photostory actor. He took classes at the Academy of Dramatic Art, continued acting and attended university, graduating with honors in 1959 with a thesis on Henry Becque; for a year he taught French literature in a high school. In 1958, Aldo Trionfo called him to join the Genoese company La borsa di Arlecchino, which he left in 1960 to pursue his career independently.
He began working in television, increasing his notoriety, and in 1961 he presented Canzonissima with Sandra Mondaini. He made his debut in the role of head comedian in Milan with the show Il novellino (1960). In 1962 is Il diavolo (The Devil), a montage of songs by various authors in which Poli inserts Catholic songs; he thus earns a reputation as a profaner for more conservative audiences. In 1963 he staged Paolo Paoli, a text by Arhur Adamov, with which he was a great success with audiences and critics and the acclaim of the author himself..
He began working in television, increasing his notoriety, and in 1961 he presented Canzonissima with Sandra Mondaini. He made his debut in the role of head comedian in Milan with the show Il novellino (1960). In 1962 is Il diavolo (The Devil), a montage of songs by various authors in which Poli inserts Catholic songs; he thus earns a reputation as a profaner for more conservative audiences. In 1963 he staged Paolo Paoli, a text by Arhur Adamov, with which he was a great success with audiences and critics and the acclaim of the author himself..
