The Glorious Ones One Act Musical: Book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, based on the novel by Francine Prose; Music by Stephen Flaherty Produced by Lincoln Center Theater at the Mitzi Newhouse Theatre 11th October, 2007 - 6th January, 2008 (48 perfs) Premiered at the Pittsburg Public Theatre, 19th April, 2007 SYNOPSIS Both slapstick and serious, the musical follows a travelling band of actors in 16th century Italy, as they search for immorality and love, on a journey that leads right to present day. Its seven archetypal characters are the charismatic leading man, the sly harlequin, the quack "dottore", the old miser, the voluptuous leading lady, the devoted dwarf, and the elegant Moon Woman. Story: As the curtains part, SEVEN ACTORS appear in commedia dell'arte costumes, on a little stage, moving in a dreamlike recreation of their old roles. FLAMINIO SCALA, the leader of the troupe, begins the story, transporting us back to a beautiful spring day in Venice. Suddenly, we are on a piazza, as the Glorious Ones, set up a stage and introduce us to their bawdy style of comedy. ("The Glorious Ones"). They tell us that much of their comic routines were improvised, and Flaminio Scala illustrates with a slapstick version of his early life, in which he demonstrates how he was raised by monks and later thrown onto the street. There, the endless parade of humanity inspires him to create a new kind of theater--masked the commedia dell'arte. We meet Armanda Ragusa, a dwarf, who is madly in love with the dashing Flaminio. She steals little mementos of her idol--his lost buttons, one of his old stockings, posters, etc.--and keeps them in a sack under her bed. She and Flaminio rehearse a comic sketch about a little dog. They are interrupted by the leading lady, Columbina, who is Flaminio's mistress. She is sick of waiting for him and sick of his antics. ("Making Love.") By the time the number is over, he has seduced her once again. We next meet Pantalone, who was once a tailor but now plays the roles of the old misers in the troupe's plays. ("Pantalone Alone.") He and Armanda commiserate about their lovelorn states ("The Comedy of Love"). Dottore Graziano, the "quack doctor" in their skits, has sold Pantalone a love elixir, but it hasn't worked-- Columbina still doesn't love him. Their backstage dilemmas are mirrored onstage in a comic show-within-the show, "The Comedy of Love," in which Flaminio Scala always gets the girl, after almost committing comic suicide with a rubber sword. The next day, Flaminio Scala discovers Francesco Andreini, a talented young comic, who is performing on the street. Flaminio takes him under his wing, ("The Glorious Ones - Reprise") and before long they are like father and son. Flaminio teaches Francesco what it means to be an actor ("Madness to Act") but Francesco lets us know that he's more ambitious than he may appear. ("Absalom.") During the course of this song, Flaminio gets an idea from the many patches on Francesco's clothes--he creates a patchwork costume for a new character--Arlechino, the clown--and gives his young protege this featured role. The quack Dottore tries frantically to get onto the stage but is prevented by an invisible wall. In mime, he manages to find a way to get through, and then happily insults the audience in Latin. At last he introduces the next adventure for The Glorious Ones--"The Invitation to France," and they embark on a whirlwind trip, filled with travails, to perform for the French Court ("Flaminio Scala's Historical Journey to France").
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