I ran into Mario Fratti a couple of weeks ago. He lives in the same building as a friend of mine in mid-town. Mario recognized me immediately and flashed that trademark smile of his. He is perhaps the most charming individual I have ever known. He's what I call "old school", but not because of his age. He seems timeless to me, and his appearance has never changed in the decade or so since I first met him. No, it's his suave demeanor, his European politeness, a touch of the aristocratic - and more than a touch of the poet - that set him apart in 21st century New York. He's a real gentleman. The kind of man that will always hold a door for a lady and tip his hat. Oh, and he is always dressed impeccably as well.
Mario thanked me for the last production I had directed. He was there. He reviewed it for L'Oggie, an Italian newspaper. I didn't see the review, nor could I have read it. But he assured me it was favorable. He then handed me a flyer with information about a new collection of his plays that has just been published. 28 Play. 28 Surprises. I look quickly down the list of plays, and to my surprise, I didn't know almost any of them! I thought I had read most of Mario's plays. But no, these were all new, at least to me. This man never stops!
Nor should he. To say that Mario Fratti is prolific is, well, decidedly an understatement. A colleague once posited that Mario had to write about a play a year, but I think that estimate is low. Mario has a style all his own. His plays are famous for their...you guessed it: surprises. There's always a twist ending, a turn, an unexpected event. And his characters are never the same at the end of his plays. I first met Mario when I was cast in a production of his play Sister at Theater for the New City, directed by Michael Hillyer. My character had a seemingly inappropriate relationship with his sister. Until we really got to know the mother. Then it all became startlingly clear. That was a good many years ago, but I remember the rhythm of the play was so important. The lines needed to pop quickly and not get bogged down in emotionality.Mario wrote the book for the musical NINE which swept the Tony
awards when it premiered on Broadway starring Raul Julia. There was a revival recently starring Antonio Banderas. What's interesting is that the play, based upon Fellini's 8 1/2, is about a man who loves women. All women. Lots of women. Not obscenely, but passionately, elegantly - like Mario.
On his website it says: Fratti's nearly seventy plays have received some six hundred productions in two dozen countries and have been translated into many languages. That's some achievement.
I recently came upon a photo of Joseph Chaikin at the Edwin Booth Awards. I believe the year was 2001. And there in the photo, standing behind Joe, was Mario, looking splendid, happy, and dapper.
Mario also has a daughter named Valentina Fratti. Valentina is an extraordinarily talented director in her own right. I asked Mario where she was. He said, "Oh, she's directing plays now in Italy." Too bad, I thought. We could use her talent here. But at least we still have the father - the Capo di tutti Capo - Mario Fratti.
