GIANNI SCHICCHI
a farce by Brian Townsend
directed by Brian Townsend
ON STAGE: FEBRUARY 7-23, 2020
FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS AT 8:00 PM | SUNDAYS AT 2:00 PM
AUDITIONS: DECEMBER 9-10 7:00 PM
If you were fortunate enough to see our last season's production of "Murder Comes to Uptight Abbey", you won't want to miss Mr. Townsend's adaptation of Giacomo Puccini's comic opera. Favoloso!
a farce by Brian Townsend
directed by Brian Townsend
ON STAGE: FEBRUARY 7-23, 2020
FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS AT 8:00 PM | SUNDAYS AT 2:00 PM
AUDITIONS: DECEMBER 9-10 7:00 PM
If you were fortunate enough to see our last season's production of "Murder Comes to Uptight Abbey", you won't want to miss Mr. Townsend's adaptation of Giacomo Puccini's comic opera. Favoloso!
Gianni Schicchi
A farce by Brian Townsend
Based on the opera by Giacomo Puccini, with libretto by Gioachino Forzano and the English translation by Edoardo Petri
From the director:
Please note that the ages listed are playing/character ages only. Actors of all ages are welcome to audition. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.
While this play is based on the opera by Puccini, there is no singing involved in this production!
The action takes place in Florence, Italy, in the early 1930s. While the characters are Italian, it is not necessary to speak with an Italian accent — it can be awkward having “evah-ree-one speak-a like-a dis.” However, relishing the names without Americanizing them is fun.
The Characters
BUOSO DONATI (Let’s just say it — he’s old)
An elderly, sickly man who’s spent more time on his deathbed than most people spend living. Frail and rattling, but not without some power over his family. Still conniving after all these years. Note: the actor who plays Buoso will also play Dr. Spinelloccio and Mr. Amantio.
ZITA DONATI (50s–60s)
Buoso’s cousin and, for all purposes, the matriarch of the family. She is not one to be trifled with. Despite her years, she still considers herself a beauty. Severe, pragmatic, and a frustrated cook.
SIMONE DONATI (50s–60s)
Buoso’s cousin, the chief of police, although he sees himself above the law and doesn’t mind bending it when he can. A healthy mix of pompous and buffoon.
MARCO DONATI (20s–30s)
A fashionable young man, but a brutish, dim-witted frat boy at heart. Sexually frustrated (see his wife Celia below) and slow on the uptake.
CELIA DONATI (20s–30s)
Marco’s wife, who has yet to consummate her marriage. She is more interested in how she looks and may, perhaps, be the great-grandmother of “vocal fry.” Beautiful but shallow.
NELLA DONATI-SUPPINO (40s)
A middle-aged, not-so-happily married woman. Her one joy is her son, whom she readily smothers. Easily riled and frustrated.
GILBERTO SUPPINO (40s–early 50s)
Her middle-aged, not-so-happily married husband. He’s also easily riled, and a bit of a lout. His parenting style is “loose.”
GILBERTO SUPPINO, JR. (JUNIOR) (20s)
Their son. Spoiled, smart-mouthed and impertinent. Although treated — and dressed — like a little boy, he is played by an actor well into his twenties.
MATTEO DONATI (early 20s)
Zita’s nephew, perhaps the sanest member of the whole family. Sensible, kind-hearted and romantic, but not without his Donati sharpness.
BERNARDO (BERNIE) SCARLUCCI (50s–60s)
Buoso’s brother-in-law. A functioning drunk, he’s in a near-constant state of inebriation. The poorest of the lot, and the family looks down on him. Easily distracted/distracting.
LAURETTA SCHICCHI (early 20s)
Gianni Schicchi’s daughter. Lovely, trusting and beautiful, but not exceedingly bright. She sees the good in others easily and always tells the truth.
GIANNI SCHICCHI (50s)
A likable rogue, full of shabby dignity, potentially with a large nose. Equal parts blowhard and con artist — or rather, an artist in the powers of persuasion. The audience might be his best friend.
DR. SPINELLOCCIO (70s-80s)
A decrepit doctor who has taken care of the Donati family for many, many, many years. Nearsighted and practically deaf. Note: the actor who plays Dr. Spinelloccio will also play Buoso Donati and Mr. Amantio.
MR. AMANTIO (30s–40s)
Buoso Donati’s lawyer and a notary. A consummate yes-man with little to no sense of humor. Note: the actor who plays Mr. Amantio will also play Dr. Spinelloccio and Buoso Donati.
A farce by Brian Townsend
Based on the opera by Giacomo Puccini, with libretto by Gioachino Forzano and the English translation by Edoardo Petri
From the director:
Please note that the ages listed are playing/character ages only. Actors of all ages are welcome to audition. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.
While this play is based on the opera by Puccini, there is no singing involved in this production!
The action takes place in Florence, Italy, in the early 1930s. While the characters are Italian, it is not necessary to speak with an Italian accent — it can be awkward having “evah-ree-one speak-a like-a dis.” However, relishing the names without Americanizing them is fun.
The Characters
BUOSO DONATI (Let’s just say it — he’s old)
An elderly, sickly man who’s spent more time on his deathbed than most people spend living. Frail and rattling, but not without some power over his family. Still conniving after all these years. Note: the actor who plays Buoso will also play Dr. Spinelloccio and Mr. Amantio.
ZITA DONATI (50s–60s)
Buoso’s cousin and, for all purposes, the matriarch of the family. She is not one to be trifled with. Despite her years, she still considers herself a beauty. Severe, pragmatic, and a frustrated cook.
SIMONE DONATI (50s–60s)
Buoso’s cousin, the chief of police, although he sees himself above the law and doesn’t mind bending it when he can. A healthy mix of pompous and buffoon.
MARCO DONATI (20s–30s)
A fashionable young man, but a brutish, dim-witted frat boy at heart. Sexually frustrated (see his wife Celia below) and slow on the uptake.
CELIA DONATI (20s–30s)
Marco’s wife, who has yet to consummate her marriage. She is more interested in how she looks and may, perhaps, be the great-grandmother of “vocal fry.” Beautiful but shallow.
NELLA DONATI-SUPPINO (40s)
A middle-aged, not-so-happily married woman. Her one joy is her son, whom she readily smothers. Easily riled and frustrated.
GILBERTO SUPPINO (40s–early 50s)
Her middle-aged, not-so-happily married husband. He’s also easily riled, and a bit of a lout. His parenting style is “loose.”
GILBERTO SUPPINO, JR. (JUNIOR) (20s)
Their son. Spoiled, smart-mouthed and impertinent. Although treated — and dressed — like a little boy, he is played by an actor well into his twenties.
MATTEO DONATI (early 20s)
Zita’s nephew, perhaps the sanest member of the whole family. Sensible, kind-hearted and romantic, but not without his Donati sharpness.
BERNARDO (BERNIE) SCARLUCCI (50s–60s)
Buoso’s brother-in-law. A functioning drunk, he’s in a near-constant state of inebriation. The poorest of the lot, and the family looks down on him. Easily distracted/distracting.
LAURETTA SCHICCHI (early 20s)
Gianni Schicchi’s daughter. Lovely, trusting and beautiful, but not exceedingly bright. She sees the good in others easily and always tells the truth.
GIANNI SCHICCHI (50s)
A likable rogue, full of shabby dignity, potentially with a large nose. Equal parts blowhard and con artist — or rather, an artist in the powers of persuasion. The audience might be his best friend.
DR. SPINELLOCCIO (70s-80s)
A decrepit doctor who has taken care of the Donati family for many, many, many years. Nearsighted and practically deaf. Note: the actor who plays Dr. Spinelloccio will also play Buoso Donati and Mr. Amantio.
MR. AMANTIO (30s–40s)
Buoso Donati’s lawyer and a notary. A consummate yes-man with little to no sense of humor. Note: the actor who plays Mr. Amantio will also play Dr. Spinelloccio and Buoso Donati.