The show is divided into two parts. In the first part, Joseph and Mary arrive at Tirisiti's inn, who refuses to give them shelter. This is followed by the traditional episodes of the angel’s appearance, the nativity, the adoration of the shepherds and the Magi. During the flight to Egypt, the Holy Family finds refuge under a palm tree which conceals them from the eyes of their pursuers. The Captain of the soldiers interrogates the farmers who tell him that they saw the fugitives passing by while they were sowing. At that moment, the wheat sprouts miraculously, confusing the soldiers who give up the pursuit. The tree opens its palms and reveals the Holy Family who continue on their way.
The second part, the one with secular action, is divided in six scenes with situations and characters from Alcoy. The Night watchman announces the time and wakes up the characters one after the other. Tirisiti comically presents the local community on its way to mass. An old man argues with the altar boy who holds the church door. Tirisiti sends his wife Tereseta to mass, who exchanges a kiss with the sacristan, but the crowd warns her husband about it. The community leaves the church at the end of the mass, while Tirisiti is repeating his comments. A bull appears and threatens Tirisiti. The famous bullfighter Clásico makes some bullfighting passes in front of Tirisiti who boasts that he can do better than him. A chase begins between the bull and Tirisiti. The bells ring, announcing the march of Moors and Christians who come forward, as in the traditional Alcoy festival. The city's patron saint, Saint Jordi, appears on top of the castle. Tirisiti decides to leave the city, packs his bags and leaves for the Moon in a hot-air balloon. But the hot-air balloon bursts and Tirisiti falls with it.

All audiences

Pepe Esteve el Betlemero (Josep Esteve, aka el Betlemero)

Spain

Alcoy

Printed

Crib

Swazzle

Custom

Nativity

Folklore

Popular theatre

Spanish bullfighting

Party

Gas balloon

Mass (liturgy)

Daily life

Comments

Bullfighting

Christmas

Visitation Festival

Comical

Satirical

Religious

Didactic

Catalan

Innkeeper

Virgin Mary

Melchior

Wise Men (Biblical Magi)

Shepherd

Soldier

Night watchman

Grand-father

Sacristan

Bullfighter

Bull

Saint George

Moorish

Joseph

Jesus

Angel

Caspar

Balthazar

Captain

Choirboy

Christian

Ploughman

Narrator

Address to the public

Dialogue with the audience

Fight with an animal

Chase

Christmas carol

Instrumental tune

Apparition

Improvised dialogue

Current affairs

El Betlem de Tirisiti

La crèche de Tirisiti

Tom Fool, the author of the play which will be performed, finds out that the set designer chose an engraving showing Craig pointing to the huge entrance to the Macbeth's castle to portray the Gates of Hell. He voices his discontent. The set designer then suggests a “realistic” representation of Hell: the door to a mansion in a rich neighbourhood of London. Still unsatisfied, Tom Fool eventually agrees with the stage designer for a more “traditional” style, as portrayed in mystery plays staged in popular theatres (notably in Christmas pantomimes in Great Britain) – with a Hellmouth, colorful devils, pitchforks, boiling cauldrons, snakes, and so on. The characters in The Drama for Fools, eager to play, come forward one by one on the stage, but Tom Fool has not written their parts yet.

El Betlem de Tirisiti

The Gates of Hell

An Interlude