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Intorno al solito, versatile Paolo Panaro, che ora veste i panni di una madre matura ed altezzosa, ora quelli d’un malcapitato critico d’arte, gareggiano in bravura Elisabetta Aloia, Antonella Genga, Francesco Lamacchia, Loris Leoci e Giulia Sangiorgio. Luci : Gianni Colapinto, assistente alla regia : Giulia Sangiorgio.

I translated like this:

Besides usual, versatile Paolo Panaro, who is stepping into the shoes of mature and haughty mother, others who are competing in their excellence in front of the eyes of the unfortunate arts critic are Elisabetta Aloia, Antonella Genga, Francesco Lamacchia, Loris Leoci amd Giulia Sangiorgio. Lights: Gianni Colapinto, assistant director: Giulia Sangiorgio.

question 1): Paolo is a guy, so I wasn't sure if he is acting like a woman in the play, so just to be on the safe side, I put: 'who is stepping into the shoes of...' What do you think of this solution?

question 2): I cannot understand part: 'ora quelli d’un malcapitato critico d’arte' ---) it just seems strange to translate: 'now those of the unfortunate arts critic...' I cannot understand how this part of the sentence fits the whole picture.