Commedia Dell' Arte
For those familiar with
the 16th Century Italian form of Commedia Dell’Arte
this is a skillful and fun return to a tradition of theatre
not often seen in its masked form.
Those not familiar with Commedia Dell’Arte
can enjoy the archetypes for the freedom, joy and laughter
they provide and will recognize the similarities between
these ancient archetypes and their contemporary counter-parts
in today’s sitcoms and movies.
Saints become characters
in the play and interact with the Commedia characters.
The saints’ meaningful, ridiculous,
and sometimes bawdy stories are important elements to the
plot.The stories of Saint Nicholas and Saint
Catherine become intertwined with Arlecchino and Pantalone’s
lives and other, less known, saints make appearances.The
almost-forgotten Saint Sithney, patron saint of mad dogs,
tries to teach Pietro the folly of arguing with God as he
learned from experience.And through presentations by the sweet
and sour Sister Betty, the audience learns about the particulars
of Catholic history and faith and how Catholics look to the
examples of the saints to live their lives and pray to the
saints for intercession with God.
Synopsis of Saint Arlecchino
A young, naïve and
impressionable couple, Rose and Pietro, fall in love but
their Catholic faith comes in conflict with their desire
and they must go their separate ways or face eternal hellfire. Pantalone’s
desire for Rose will surely send him to hell but the only
thing he’s thinking about is Rose’s young flesh. In
the name of love, the beautiful and faithful Rose swears
herself to Jesus while the lovesick Pietro declares he’ll
become a saint to win Rose’s heart. In the name
of lust, the disgusting Pantalone declares he’ll annul
the marriage of Rose to Jesus once he becomes Pope. Pantalone
enlists the help of the local priest, Father Dottore, the
butcher/pimp, Brigella, and the cowardly war hero, Capitano,
to start a Holy War and initiate his campaign for Pope. Arlecchino
inadvertently wanders onto his own path of glory as he
just tries to get a little food and sex. The stairway to
heaven and the highway to hell have never been more fun.
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