<p>Pulcinella serves the house of Lady Celestina. He comes back from a medical appointment with one kilo of English salt to purge himself. He leaves it in the kitchen. Celestina asks for a favour. He must pose as her husband, who is travelling, and sends back one of her suitors. But Pulcinella cannot remember the sentence Celestina suggested he told the suitor. Meanwhile, Felice – Celestina’s piano teacher – arrives. Felice is starving and drinks a broth in which the English salt has been mixed. Thus, when Celestina asks him to pretend to be her husband, Felice is suffering from stomach aches and cannot rehearse his role either. Then Celestina asks for her neighbour’s help. Contrary to Pulcinella and Felice, endeavours to play his role well – as he used to be an actor in his youth. When Celestina’s suitor arrives, Pulcinella, Felice and the neighbour all play the role of Celestina’s husband. Much confusion ensues, heightened by the arrival of Celestina’s real husband.</p>

Glove-puppet

Not specified

Ferrajolo Francesco

Ferrajolo Salvatore

Italy

Salerno

Printed

Hunger

Medicines

Husband

Seduction

Comical

Italian

Wife

Pulcinella

Servant

Felice Sciosciammocca

Music teacher

Neighbour

Actor

Suitor

Student

Off-stage voice

Misunderstanding

Word for another

Word warping

Disguised character (false identity)

Address to the public

Blow-with-a-stick

Multiplied characters

'Na purga 'e sale inglese

A purge of English salt