Back back to Artword Productions 2000-2001

World premiere! Charly’s new show, at Artword Theatre, April 5 to 29, 2001 Charly goes back to Italy and finds he’s a ... Mangiacake! by Charly Chiarelli (summary and excerpts) Charly goes back to Italy and finds he's a Mangiacake! When Charly was a baby, Charly's parents immigrated from Sicily to Canada, to the industrial north end of Hamilton. The first part of the new play Mangiacake tells about the Sicilian-Canadian experience, growing up with two identities. In the second part, Charly goes back to Sicily to find his roots. The show is punctuated with Charly's songs and harmonica playing.

"Cu si tu? (Who are you?) Cu si tu? (Who are you?)"
Sicilians have a way of making simple questions sound intimidating: "Chi fa?" (What are you doing?), "Cu ce?" (Who's there?), "Cu'fu?" (Who did it?). And the question before me, "Cu si tu?" (Who are you?). The stern looking woman asking the question was also blocking the way. My wife and I were hauling a lot of luggage down a cobblestone street in Sicily. We were searching for my relatives.
When I was a kid, I had no desire to return to Italy. Why should I? My parents broke their asses to leave - and I'm going to go back? Besides, there was enough Italy right there in our neighbourhood, in the industrial north end.

Cold winter white, clench for a fight
Play the tough big city game
Laugh at my clothes, bloody my nose
But don't you make fun of my name

Refrain Piglia ti lu tu ca mancu lu wuliu
Piglia ti lu tu si ti pari to
Take it for yourself, it don't mean nothin
Take it for yourself if you want it bad