Following a successful tour in the major Italian cities and a three months residence, last season, at Rome's "Piccolo Eliseo", the Teatro Stabile di Torino production of Ingmar Bergman's Scenes from a Marriage (Scene da un matrimonio) opens tonight, Apr. 14, for a three week run thru May 3 at Turin's Teatro Carignano. Originally conceived as a six episodes television serial and subsequently adapted for the big screen (in 1973) and the stage (in 1981), Scenes from a Marriage is one of Bergman's most popular and best known works. Talking about the play, the Swedish director and playwright said: "It took me three years to write Scenes from a Marriage but it took me a much longer time in my life to live them".

Gabriele Lavia stars in the lead role of Johan and directs Bergman's play. Co-starring in the role of Marianne is Lavia's wife and long time artistic companion Monica Guerritore.

Gabriele Lavia, who was appointed last year director of Turin's Teatro Stabile, is one of the most popular Italian actors and directors: his recent credits as a director include Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard and Uncle Vanya, Shakespeare's Othello and Richard III, Strindberg's Miss Julie and Pirandello's The Rules of the Game. He also directed and appeared in four films.

Scenes from a Marriage features scenes by Alessandra Camera and a translation by Chiara De Marchi. Following the run in Turin, the show will play its final performances at Trieste's Politeama Rossetti, May 5 thru May 10.

For further information call the Teatro Stabile di Torino at +39 11 51.69.411.

--By Stefano Curti
Italy Correspondent