A Short Comedy Adapted for the Stage and Based on a Story by Charles Perrault

Part of the Series: Commedia dell'Arte Plays for the Modern Stage

ACTOR'S EDITION

Perpetua keeps nagging her daughter Isabella to marry Pantalone: he's a gold-digger with seven previous wives who died in mysterious circumstances. When Scaramuccia warns his sister against the marriage, Isabella loses her temper, and accepts Pantalone's proposal. Things seem to go well at first, but Isabella's maid Columbina grows suspicious. When Isabella discovers Pantalone's secret, he determines to destroy her. It will take guts and some clever thinking to resolve this dark comedy.

Cast Size: (with doubling) 7 overall: 4m, 3w. May be expanded to 6m, 4w, 1m/w.

Approximate Running Time: 75–85 min. Two Acts with optional intermission (can be performed as a One Act Play).

Time Period: A short time or a long time ago.

Setting: Far away, in a place a little like Italy. Can be staged in minimalist fashion, without sets or backdrops.

Min. Royalty Rate: Contact Bardstreet for licensing inquiry.

Target Audience: Middle School, High School, College/University, Adult/Family, Catholic and Christian audiences, Classical schools

Performing Group: Middle School, High School, College/University Theater, Community Theater, Professional Theater, Touring Group

Note: This modern Commedia play is composed primarily of scripted lines. This is a departure from the original Commedia plays, which had far fewer set lines (and sometimes none!). However, the series preserves the Commedia dell'Arte flavor by allowing traditional Commedia characters to present the play, and giving them ample opportunity for "lazzi" or "business," improvisation, pantomime, music, dance, tumbling, sword-play, and recommendations for memorized poems to present as "stock speeches."