Cavalleria rusticana & Pagliacci: The Show

52nd Season
2007–2008

Cavalleria rusticana
Pietro Mascagni

Pagliacci
Ruggero Leoncavallo

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Conductor: José Luis Moscovich, Director: José María Condemi
Set Design: Jean-François Revon, Costume Design: Richard W. Battle, Lighting Design: Robert Anderson

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Cavalleria rusticana

	At Mamma Lucia’s cafe, townsmen celebrate Easter with a glass of wine.
	Alfio (Alex Britton), sings of the joys of being the town carter—the freedom of travel and then returning to Lola, the loyal wife waiting for him at home.
	Santuzza (Gail Sullivan) and Mamma Lucia (Donna Olson), are surprised to learn that Turiddu is not in Francofonte, but was seen early that morning near Alfio’s (Alex Britton) house.
	The priest (Rick Rubenstein), altar boys (Nelson Crenshaw-Koskela, Ian McColl), and members of the congregation await the Easter procession outside the church.
	Lola (Raeeka Shehabi-Yaghmai) and Turiddu (Scott Six) exchange a longing glance as Santuzza (Sharon Maxwell) worries about her future.
	Santuzza (Gail Sullivan) begs Turiddu (Vincent Chambers) not to abandon her.
	Alfio (David Hodgson) tells Santuzza (Sharon Maxwell) that he will tear her heart out if she is not telling the truth about the affair between Turiddu and Lola.
	Lola (Cathleen Candia) watches for Turiddu and Alfio after church.
	Mamma Lucia (MaryAnne Stanislaw) serves her customers as Lola (Raeeka Shehabi-Yaghmai) lurks in the background.
	Turiddu (Vincent Chambers) asks Mamma Lucia (Donna Olson) to bring wine that will bring joy like the smile of a lover as Lola (Cathleen Candia) smiles.
	Turiddu (Vincent Chambers) offers Alfio (Alex Britton) a glass of wine when he arrives.
	Alfio (David Hodgson) refuses the wine Turiddu (Scott Six) offers, saying it would turn to poison inside him, and Lola (Raeeka Shehabi-Yaghmai) worries about what will happen next.
	Turiddu (Vincent Chambers) asks his mother (Donna Olson) for one last kiss in farewell.

Pagliacci

	As the Prologue, Tonio (Alex Britton) asks the audience to remember that actors are flesh and bone beneath their costumes.
	The townspeople are thrilled at the arrival of the clowns.
	The clown troupe arrives. Canio (Vincent Chambers) greets the crowd as his wife Nedda (Gail Sullivan) displays the handbills, Beppe (Jonathan Smucker) plays his mandolin, Tonio (Alex Britton) plays the drum, and the juggler (Rick Rubenstein) holds his clubs.
	Canio (Vincent Chambers) informs a villager (Alexander Frank) that it is best not to joke about cheating wives.
	After the men leave for a drink, Nedda (Gail Sullivan) confesses that she is languid with secret desires.
	Tonio (Alex Britton) declares his love for Nedda (Gail Sullivan), but she mocks him with lines from their characters in the play.
	When Tonio (Alex Britton) tries to kiss her, Nedda (Gail Sullivan) threatens him with a whip, declaring that his soul is as twisted as his body.
	Silvio (John Dalton Frederick) pleads with Nedda (Gail Sullivan) to leave Canio and stay with him.
	Nedda (Sharon Maxwell) tells Silvio (Sascha Joggerst) that she would love a calm and quiet life.
	Eager for revenge, Tonio (Alex Britton) helps Canio (Vincent Chambers) catch his wife with her village lover.
	Watched by Tonio (Alex Britton), Nedda (Gail Sullivan) refuses to reveal her lover’s name though Canio (Vincent Chambers) holds a knife to her throat.
	Tonio (David Hodgson) counsels Canio (Scott Six) to pretend to forgive, and then watch to see if Nedda’s lover appears at the evening show.
	Though in anguish, Canio (Vincent Chambers) begins to apply the makeup and costume that will transform him into Pagliaccio, ready to amuse the audience.
	Tonio (David Hodgson), transformed into Taddeo, and the juggler (Rick Rubenstein) entertain the early arrivals.
	Nedda (Sharon Maxwell) appears onstage, transformed into Colombina.
	Beppe (Jonathan Smucker), transformed into Arlecchino, appears to court Colombina (Gail Sullivan).
	Taddeo (David Hodgson) reveals his heart to Colombina (Sharon Maxwell).
	Colombina (Gail Sullivan) is thrilled with the chicken Taddeo (Alex Britton) has bought for her, while he tries to figure out exactly how much it cost.
	Arlecchino (Jonathan Smucker) sneaks up on Taddeo (David Hodgson), while Colombina (Sharon Maxwell) distracts him with chicken feathers.
	Colombina (Sharon Maxwell) proudly serves Arlecchino (Jonathan Smucker) a chicken feather as he pours the wine.
	Silvio (Sascha Joggerst) tries to blend into the audience watching the performance of Arlecchino (Jonathan Smucker), Colombina (Sharon Maxwell), and Taddeo (David Hodgson).
	Arriving home unexpectedly, Canio (Vincent Chambers), transformed into Pagliaccio, wonders why Colombina (Gail Sullivan) has set two plates on the supper table.
	Unable to keep up the act, Pagliaccio/Canio (Scott Six) tells Colombina/Nedda (Sharon Maxwell) that he hoped for at least pity, if not love, after rescuing her from the gutter.
	Eager to complete his revenge, Taddeo/Tonio (Alex Britton), readies the knife as Pagliaccio/Canio (Vincent Chambers) demands the name of her lover from Colombina/Nedda (Gail Sullivan).
	“The comedy is over,” declares Pagliaccio/Canio (Vincent Chambers) as Taddeo/Tonio (Alex Britton) and Arlecchino/Beppe (Jonathan Smucker) react to the bodies of Silvio (John Dalton Frederick) and Colombina/Nedda (Gail Sullivan).