Based on three short stories “A Pair of Eyeglasses,” “Family Interior” and “The Involuntary City” by Anna Maria Ortese, The Sea Does Not Reach Naples presents moments of daily life in post-WWII Naples. In three short theatrical vignettes, an ensemble cast guides us through a child’s experience of receiving her first pair of eyeglasses – along with a clearer view of the life (for better and worse) around her. We witness a woman grapple with a life-altering decision when her long-lost love returns to the city after several years at sea. Finally, we become part of a tour guide’s awakening to the Inferno-esque reality of post-war Naples. Elements of magical realism and musicality tell each story with a painful grace that evokes the “cuore pensante” (ever-thinking heart) within each of us.

Content Advisory: Instances of domestic violence in A Pair of Eyeglasses, and 

death of a child in The Involuntary City.

The Theatre @ Schapiro

Schapiro Hall – Lower Level

605 West 115th Street

NY, NY 10027

Performance Schedule

Friday, April 15, 2022 @ 7:30pm

Saturday, April 16, 2022 @ 2pm

Saturday, April 16, 2022 @ 7:30pm

The performance runs 90 minutes with no intermission.

Tickets are free and must be booked in advance. All guests entering the theater are required to display Photo ID and Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination.