Saint Pierre (Saint Peter), helped by four cherubs, prepares the scene of the Nativity. He rehearses the hymns, and sends the star to the Rois Mages (Biblical Magi) who are gathering at Melchior’s house, from where they will start the journey. In the stable of Matthieu (Matthew), mayor of Bethlehem, Chérubin (Cherub) gives the animals the ability to speak for one evening; they make fun of humans. Meanwhile, Pascal, the mayor’s blind son, urges his parents to search the stable without explaining what he is looking for. Two shepherds argue before being lectured by a third one who urges them to get going. The Rois Mages stop at Hérode’s (Herod) house, who wants to know where they are going. Matthieu visits the scribe Estève, in charge of the census, and the hoteliers Barabbas and Iscariote (Iscariot): the latter complains about the bad behaviour of his son Judas. Saint Joseph and the Vierge Marie (Virgin Mary) turn up for the census and ask the hoteliers for a room, but they refuse. Saint Pierre takes them to his stable that he sets up for the birth of Jésus and the arrival of the popular characters. Pascal miraculously gets his sight back, and the Rois Mages arrive.

Glove-puppet

All audiences

Gignoux Hubert

Czechia

Moravská Třebová

Printed

Crib

Star

Biblical Magi

Nativity

Christmas preparations

Prison camp

Miracle

Disobedient child

Christmas

Religious

Comical

Fantasy

Hubert Gignoux, Noël des anges, 1945. Marcelle Moynier’s copy (Puppet Theatre of Geneva)

French

Saint Peter

Angel

Caspar

Wise Men (Biblical Magi)

Horse

Goat

Sheep

Mayor

Shepherd

Herod

Barabbas

Countryside ranger

Donkey

Joseph

Virgin Mary

Judas

Melchior

Balthazar

Address to the public

Object coming to life

Talking animal

Canticle

Noël des anges

The Angels' Christmas

A shepherd finds Princess Bertha on a beach, after she was banished from the kingdom by her brother Carlo Magno. Bertha had sailed away with her lover Milone, but the captain of the boat kidnapped her. A tempest then sank the ship and dispersed all its passengers. The shepherd took the princess in as his own daughter and became the grandfather of the child she gave birth to – Orlandino. Orlandino is an unruly child: he is always ready to hit someone with a stick. One day, he wins a tournament against the Governor’s child Oliviero. The Governor shows surprise at Orlandino’s victory, interrogates him and finds out he is Berta and Milone’s child. With the help of Duke Namo, Berta comes to Carlo Magno to ask for his forgiveness. But the king kicks her. As a consequence, Orlandino strikes the king with his stick. Carlo Magno and Berta finally reconcile. After biting him, Orlandino throws himself into his uncle’s arms. In him, his uncle sees the curse of the pagans and the champion of Christianity.

Armed rod marionette

Not specified

Italy

Palermo

Typed or electronic text with handwritten annotations

Impossible love

Shipwreck

Hidden child

Forgiveness

Dramatic

Epic

First page of Anna Cuticchio's Le avventure di Orlandino

Italian

Lady

Child

Orlando

Governor

Father

Oliver

Virticchio

Voice

Duke

Choir

Charlemagne (King)

Guard

Analepsis (Flash-back)

Blow-with-a-stick

Dialect as a social marker

Fight

Fight with an animal

Disguised character (false identity)

Le avventure di Orlandino

The adventures of Orlandino