The art of translating plays for the stage is a delicate and often thankless task, but it can make or break a work of art. Monica Capuani, a leading translator bringing international theatre to Italian audiences, embodies this sentiment. She describes herself as an 'artist of interpretation and humility', following in the footsteps of the authors she translates, serving them invisibly. Her latest project is a translation of Marina Carr's new play, Mirandolina, a reimagining of Carlo Goldoni's 18th-century Italian comedy, La locandiera. This translation is a full circle, as Capuani first produced a literal English translation of Goldoni's work, which Carr then reworked and updated. Capuani then restored the text into Italian, preserving the linguistic specificities and emotional textures Carr introduced. This process highlights the translator's role as a cultural intermediary, a bridge between two languages and two worlds. The demands of theatrical translation are unique, requiring the translator to disappear completely. The audience should never stop to think about the translation, and yet, this very invisibility has contributed to the profession being undervalued. The recent rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in translation has sharpened anxieties across the industry. AI can produce translations almost instantly and at virtually no cost, raising concerns about the future of human translators. Capuani compares AI's impact on translation to the effect the internet has had on journalism, where anyone can say anything, and the line between truth and falsehood is blurred. She argues that AI can be a useful tool for research and checking details, but it should not replace human translators. The human element in translation is crucial, as it provides empathy and understanding, something that AI cannot replicate. This is evident in the work of Capuani and her collaboration with Marina Carr. The translation of Mirandolina required a deep understanding of language and context, and the close collaboration between Capuani, Carr, and the cast ensured a faithful and nuanced adaptation. The play's exploration of female fear and vulnerability, especially in the context of Italy's broader crisis of violence against women, adds a layer of complexity and resonance. The translation process is a testament to the skill and dedication of human translators, who spend countless hours weighing every word to do justice to the original text. It is a reminder that the human element in translation is irreplaceable and that the profession deserves recognition and respect.
