Zeffirelli and Piero Tosi agreed to participate - respectively and stage director and costume designer - to the revue "I saltimbanchi" also out of friendship for Walter Chiari, whom they had met through Luchino Visconti, particularly during the production of "Bellissima". However, the experience was not a happy one, due to Chiari's volcanic and changeable personality as both author and lead actor, which did not mesh well with Zeffirelli's methodical preparation and perfectionism. On the playbill Zeffirelli is reported only as responsible for the "staging".
"I saltimbanchi" remains Zeffirelli's only experience in the world of revue, a type of entertainment that was very popular until the end of the 1950s. It is worth noting that in October 1954, also Visconti directed a revue: "Festival", starring the legendary Wanda Osiris.