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PLEASE NOTE: These descriptions are accurate for the original play but may not be a representation of either the Queen's Theatre production or all the things Phil does in the show
He has got platinum hair and so makes an immediate impression. He has striking good looks - Beatrice and Catherine are obviously attracted to him. His unusual looks may be a signal to us that he is 'different' from the average Italian immigrant. (We later find that he has a different, more sensitive way of trying to solve disputes from Eddie and Marco.)
He has a good sense of humour, so he is popular. He is unvaryingly polite, even when Eddie is rude.
Unlike Marco, he wants to stay in America and own a motorbike. He loves America and wants to find out as much about New York as possible - he is keen to see Broadway. Eddie is concerned because he buys 'American' items like a new jacket and records, rather than send money to Marco's family.
He can sing, cook and sew: he is very talented. It upsets him that Eddie seems to dislike him so much - he cannot understand why his 'feminine' skills are a problem for the 'manly' Eddie.
His language is lively and imaginative, which shows his intelligence. For example, later is the play, he uses the image of Catherine as a bird in a cage.
Catherine falls in love with him almost immediately, and he with her. Even though Eddie tries to suggest that Rodolpho only wants to marry Catherine in order to become a US citizen, it is clear his love is strong and genuine: You think I would carry on my back the rest of my life a woman I didn't love just to be an American? He speaks very passionately.
He does not see things in such black and white terms as Marco - he attempts to mediate between Marco and Eddie and is sensitive to both points of view. We realise that, in the end, he is more responsible than Marco.
He argues with Marco to promise not to harm Eddie, so that Marco can be granted bail and attend the wedding.
He apologises to Eddie before the wedding and tries to kiss his hand, in an attempt to calm the situation.
He tries to prevent Marco and Eddie fighting - "No, Marco, please! Eddie, please, he has children!"
The audience really never even knows if Rodolpho truly loves Catherine. Their romance is curiously devoid of passion. Unlike his Italian brother Marco, Rodolpho does not seek revenge on Eddie for calling Immigration or abusing his fiance in front of him. It is very clear that Rodolpho wants to be an American citizen at all costs and there is a great possibility that he does not love Catherine. Like Eddie fears, Rodolpho may only want to gain citizenship through their marriage. The conversation between Rodolpho and Catherine in the beginning of Act II does little to clarify this issue. Catherine does ask him whether he would marry him if they had to move to Italy, but Rodolpho does not seem sincere. Rodolpho never once describes why he wants to marry Catherine, he just wants to get married to someone in the U.S. where there is work. Rodolpho is a complex character and seems more a montage of conflicts to heighten the action of the play rather than a full person. Rodolpho is constructed as a foil for Eddie Carbone, but like the women of the play, he has little life of his own.
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