GALLINA, GIACINTO

GALLINA, Giacinto. — Playwright, b. in Venice on 31 July 1852, d. there on 13 Feb. 1897. From boyhood he lived in the Venetian theatrical milieu, and for many years he directed a company performing in the Venetian dialect, in which the celebrated Marianna Moreno starred as leading actress, and from which actors such as Emilio Zago, Amalia Borisi and Ferruccio Benini emerged. For this Venetian company he wrote numerous dialect comedies, including *I oci del cuor*, *La mama no more mai*, *Serenissima*, his masterpiece, and *La famegia del santo*. Of sensitive temperament and rich in delicate effusion, Goldonian in a key of lyrical sentiment, G. succeeded in expressing, with great poetic efficacy, the goodness, morality and gentleness of soul of his people, their small dramas and daily joys.