Catarina, a matchmaker, tells Zeferino, a barber, that the young Filomena would like to marry him. Zeferino is delighted and rewards the matchmaker with one hundred escudos to buy snuff. Filomena, singing, comes in to deliver bread. Zeferino confesses his love for her and promises to marry her and to never beat her. They both sing and dance. Zeferino wants to take advantage of Filomena’s charms and announces that she will have to work after her wedding, contrary to her hopes. He takes a stick and beats her. She runs away, and Zeferino tells the audience that other young women could suffer the same fate.

Single rod marionettes

Adults

Portugal

Borba

Évora

Printed

Wedding

Money

Deception

Love

Women's condition

Matchmaker

Comical

Erotic

Portuguese

Aria

Seduction scene

Erotic scene

Blow-with-a-stick

Filomena e Zeferino

Mrs Lee confesses her love to her Gardener, in front of her husband. The Gardener snorts in response. She gives herself to him, thrilled by the idea of joining their souls. As they are making love, the Gardener slits her throat with his scythe. Mr. Lee, who witnessed everything from the room where the audience is, is delighted that everything was fake and that it was just a dream. Aha and Blindboy, who witnessed it all, decide to go back in the past, disappointed by the modern world.

String marionette

Not specified

Craig Edward Gordon

Italy

Marina di Pisa

Garden

Unfaithfulness

Spiritual union

Carnal love

Satirical

Parodistic

Edward Gordon Craig, Uplifted Petticoats (front cover)

English

A Highbrow Morality Play for Men Only

Husband

Gardener

Ahha

Blind Boy

Blind

Monologue

Address to the public

Murder on stage

Commentary

Speechless character

Blind character

Uplifted Petticoats