Jewish and Bulgarian born Moni Ovadia is one of the most interesting actors and dramatists to have emerged on the Italian theatre scene in recent years. Ovadia developed a peculiar and highly entertaining form of musical theatre based upon the historic heritage of Central and Eastern European Jewish communities.

His most successful show so far has been the critically acclaimed award-winning Oylem Goylem, a musical cabaret featuring a mixture of yiddish music and jokes, which he has performed since 1990 all over Italy as well as in Berlin, Paris and New York City. The show was recently aired by national television achieving a remarkable audience of over a million. Other recent shows by Moni Ovadia include Dybbuk and Ballata di fine millenio (Ballad at the End of the Millenium).

Ovadia's latest show is Il caso Kafka (The Kafka file), a touring production which finally arrives tonight for a two weeks run thru Apr 5 at Romes Teatro Quirino. Produced by CRT Artificio (Milan) and Teatro Biondo Stabile di Palermo, Il caso Kafka was written with four hands by Ovadia and Roberto Ando (who also directs) and is inspired by the life and works of Franz Kafka.

Ovadia, who plays the role of Jizehak Lowy, a Jewish actor and a friend of Kafka, is joined on stage by four actors and an orchestra of six, playing the traditional yiddish music elaborated by Alfredo Lacosegliaz and Carlo Boccadoro. The background voice of Franz Kafka was recorded by Bruno Ganz.

Tickets and further information for Il caso Kafka may be obtained from Romes Teatro Quirino at +39 6 679.45.85. --By Stefano Curti
Italy Correspondent