In the Prologue, Sole (the Sun) and Amore (Eros) compete over Giasone (Jason), to settle which woman, Isifile (Hypsipyle) or Medea, he will love. In Colchis, Giasone forgets himself in Medea’s company. His friend Ercole (Hercules) reproaches him for his lack of heroic diligence. Indeed, the hero left his first wife, Isifile (queen of Lemnos), to find the Golden Fleece, and he declares his love to his new mistress. As for Medea, she dismisses Egeo (Aegeus), whose love bothers her. Oreste (Orestes) came to inquire about Giasone on behalf of Isifile; he meets the stammerer Demo, who challenges him to a duel and then begs to be his friend, while still imploring him to let himself be beaten because it would make Oreste happy. Medea plays with Giasone and makes him believe that she wants him to marry Delfa, then she declares her love to him, causing bitterness on the nurse Delfa’s part. While Isifile laments the loss of her husband, Medea wards off the spirits to ensure Giasone’s success in his quest for the Fleece. Oreste learns about Giasone’s love for Medea and goes to tell Isifile, whom he finds asleep, dreaming about her husband’s return: he takes advantage of the situation and steals a few kisses from her. When she wakes up, he tells her about Giasone’s betrayal. She orders him to have Giasone killed. Giasone struggles in the Labyrinth, as part of his quest for the Fleece; then he sails to Corinth, with Medea. A love affair develops between Oreste and Alinda, Isifile’s companion. Egeo learns of the lovers’ flight from Demo and decides to follow them. When their ship sinks, Demo believes that he is dead and in a whale’s stomach. Another love affair begins between Alinda and Besso. Oreste tells Giasone that Isifile is looking for him. Giasone tries to distance Medea, who wants to meet her rival, by explaining to her that she is a visionary. Isifile walks in on the romantic duo, interrupting them. To get rid of her, Giasone promises her his love, and he arranges for them to meet in an inn. He gives in to her request for a kiss, as a token of his honesty. Once again, a romantic duo is interrupted: it is Medea’s turn to walk in on Giasone and Isifile. To pacify her, Giasone asks her to meet him too, and promises that Besso will have Isifile killed. To Besso, Giasone demands that the first person to appear be thrown into the sea, no matter if they are man or woman. Egeo, dressed up as a seaman, meets Demo who, still convinced to be dead, mistakes him for a spirit. Suspicious, Medea appears before Besso: captured by Giasone’ soldiers, she believes that her lover has betrayed her. When Isifile arrives, Besso sends her away. Thrown into the water, Medea is rescued by Egeo; she entrusts him with her revenge. Giasone, convinced that Besso carried out his mission, tries to fall asleep, and he dreams of the ghosts of the two women. Egeo tries to kill him, but Isifile prevents him from doing so. She is wrongly accused of the attempted murder, and Egeo runs away. While Besso announces Medea’s death, the latter appears and reveals the whole plot. Then, Egeo’s testimony clears up the situation. Isifile wants to kill herself out of romantic disappointment, but the depth of her feelings wins Giasone back. Everyone, including Medea, can now rejoice.

Not specified

Acciaiuoli Filippo (aka Gran Burattinajo)

Apolloni Giovanni Filippo

Italy

Rome

Printed

Greek mythology

Golden Fleece

Love

Jealousy

Shipwreck

Unfaithfulness

Magic

Heroic

Melodramatic

Fantasy

Comical

Il Novello Giasone, 1671 (front cover)

Italian

Jason

Hercules

Confident

Queen

Hypsipyle

Oreste

Lady

Medea

Nurse

King

Aegeus

Servant

Satyre

Spirit

Choir

Argonauts

Soldier

Sailor

Sung play

Love story

Play in verse

Prologue

Cross-dressing

Character mistaken as a member of the other sex

Sword fight

Comic stuttering

Prayer

Magic spell

Apparition of demons

Account of a dream

Monologue

Night scene

Interlude

Apparition of a god

Ballet

Flying machine

Stone throwing

Flying character

Equivocation

Off-stage scream

Off-stage noise

Il Novello Giasone

The New Jason

Teodosio (Theodosius, Emperor of Constantinople) welcomes Marciano’s army. Marciano is returning victorious from the Persian Empire, and he is bringing back Ariene, the fiancée of Varane (king of Persia). Teodosio asks that Ariene be released, and he offers her peace; but the Queen is too proud. Atenaide, a young Greek woman devoted to philosophy, hesitates between coming back to Athens and staying with the Emperor: although she loves him, she fears that their respective statuses are too different. Varane arrives at court in disguise. He befriends Atenaide and expresses jealousy at Teodosio being generous with his wife. Pulcheria welcomes Marciano, whom she loves. Teodosio is jealous of Atenaide and Varane. When Teodosio accepts Ariene’s gift—she gave him fruit to thank him for his generosity—Varane, who is watching them, believes that they are having an affair. Atenaide believes so too. To reassure Atenaide, Teodosio gives her the fruit, which she gives Varane in turn, since the stranger insisted on it. Atenaide’s companion, Acrisia, reveals to Eridione, Ariene’s servant, a miraculous fountain that changes into a dragon. She gives him a dance lesson, which introduces the interlude. Marciano is watching out for Varane on the shore. He witnesses Varane and Ariene reuniting. Since Marciano wishes to catch his enemy, whom he has recognised, the Queen steps in to protect her husband. But Varane orders her to leave. After refusing Marciano’s peace proposal, Varane is defeated. Teodosio offers peace again; Varane rejects it another time. As the Emperor is reading Costantino’s story in the library, Ariene arrives. Atenaide watches them with jealousy. Ariene and Teodosio believe that their lovers have betrayed them. Finally convinced that Teodosio loves her, Atenaide is also suspected of unfaithfulness, since she cannot give back the fruit which her husband gifted her. Atenaide manages to convince Ariene of Varane’s faithfulness; and Acrisia promises to fix the situation. She makes four pages appear in the library, then she gives Eridione an astrology lesson; Eridione is taken into the air on a cloud. The tables of the library change into nymphs; they begin to dance. Pulcheria reproaches her brother for his unchristian jealousy, and commands him to stop seeing Atenaide. Ariene and Varane reconcile and knock down Teodosio’s statue. The Emperor dismisses Atenaide. He hesitates over putting his enemy to death, but eventually decides to be consistent: he spares Varane’s life and offers him a throne. Faced with such generosity, Varane is vanquished. Teodosio’ wedding is being prepared. Teodosio despairs at the thought of never seeing Atenaide again. Pulcheria summons the new bride, who turns out to be Atenaide calling herself Eudocia. The Emperor and the young Greek woman celebrate their wedding at the same time as Pulcheria and Marciano.

Ottoboni Pietro

Constantinople

Captives

Constancy

Regency

Edifying

Laudatory

Religious

Pietro Ottoboni, Teodisio il Giovane, 1711 (central engraving)

Theodosius

Emperor

Pulcheria

Sister

General

Virgin

Lady-in-waiting

Wife

Music

Procession

Love rivalry

Disguised character (false identity)

Metamorphosis

Plot scene

Duel scene

Change of social status

Final wedding

Teodosio il Giovane

Theodosius the Young

The Knight Soleie has lost his horse and weapons. He believes he has landed on a desert island. Tchantchet shows him he has not. The Knight wants to find his father and, once he arrives at his family’s castle, asks his mother about his whereabouts. She tells him that his father has gone to war. The Knight believes he can see his wounded father – a fact which alarms his mother. But it is only a passing vision. Tchantchet brings a letter announcing the return of the father, the Bon Ténébreux. The latter arrives at the castle, reunites with his family and relates his achievements, especially his duel against Don Quixote, whom he has killed. The Knight Soleie also relates his fights, one of which ended with Malbrouke’s death. The Knight Mastique, one of Soleie’s cousins, introduces himself. He asks for the permission to bring Soleie with him, on a boat, to free the woman he loves. The Queen Rosemonde worries about this journey and has them promise to ring her or send a telegram if the boat sinks. Mastique and Soleie have landed on a new shore. The Géant Bras d’Acier (the Giant with the Steel Arm) appears suddenly and wants them to pay for the right of way. He wounds Soleie but the latter kills him. Mastique tends to Soleie. They both decide to leave the island and are flung in the air by an Enchanter, who brings them back home.

Single rod marionettes

Belgium

Liège

Knighthood

Adventure

Navigation

Giant

Epic

Parodistic

Walloon

Knight

Tchantchès

Magician

Vision

Story

Fight

Apparition of a wizard

Le Chevalier Soleie

The Knight Soleie

A very agitated Thor wakes up: his hammer disappeared during his sleep. He invokes the spirits of air and of light, and asks Loki to go look for it. Loki refuses; Thor loses patience and implores him to do it. Goddess Freyja intervenes; Thor relates his nightmare and the theft of his hammer. Loki mocks the story but finally agrees. He puts on Freyja’s feather dress and flies away. In the Land of Giants, the sovereign announces the incoming attack on the Land of Gods. Loki arrives, greets him, and mentions the decline of the Land of Gods, as well as Thor’s dismay facing the disappearance of his hammer. The Giant informs him that he has the weapon, but Loki remains sceptical. His doubts vanish when a dolphin emerges from the water with the hammer in its mouth. Loki insists and wants to get it back, and, in return, promises the Giant whatever he wants. As he is in a favourable position, the Giant accepts, on condition that Freyja becomes his wife. He grants the Gods a seven-day delay before declaring war on them. Back in the kingdom, Loki relates everything to Thor who immediately asks Freyja to accept. She takes offence, but Thor is adamant. To fool the Giant, the old Heimdallr suggests that Thor dress up as a bride and Loki as a bridesmaid, which would allow them to retrieve the hammer when the time comes. Thor is unsure at first, but agrees and praises Heimdallr’s wise words. Dressed up as women, Thor and Loki arrive in the Land of Giants where they are greeted with a spectacular feast next to the sea, with game meat galore. Loki improvises several lies to explain to the surprised Giant the bride’s gargantuan appetite and scary eyes. Unsuspecting, the Giant asks for the hammer to be brought to seal the union. Thor reveals his identity, and grasps his hammer as a thunderclap resonates. As everyone cheers, he puts an end to the expansion of the haze and glaciers and, to unite the earth and the Gods, he makes a rainbow appear.

Shadow theatre

Wolfskehl Karl

Germany

Munich

Scandinavian mythology

Thor's hammer

Banquet

Burlesque

Reproduction of the silhouette of Emile Preetorious' giant (illustration from the Schwabinger Schattenspiele's edition of 1908)

German

Thor

Divinity

Opposite worlds

Dream

Messenger

Spectacular turn of events

Aside

Thors Hammer

Thor's Hammer

A young boy named Pepperl is sick and can't go out. With the collaboration of Kasperl, who replaces him in bed and takes the medicines meant for him, Pepperl escapes from his house to go see the Christmas manger. Arriving on a flying saucer and disguised as an astronaut, the Man on the Moon convinces Kasperl and Pepperl to escape the boring festive season to celebrate Christmas on the Moon. Upon their arrival, they learn that the Man on the Moon was deceiving them. Kasperl loses his memory of his life on Earth. Thanks to the intervention of the Girl on the Moon and of Saint Nicolas who brings him a musical Christmas ornament, Kasperl recovers his memory. Saint Nicolas, Kasperl, and Pepperl return to Earth, where they are awaited by Father Christmas to celebrate the holiday.

String marionette

Young audiences

Audio-visual recording

Forced marriage

Identity

Nostalgia

Sadness

Cosmic journey

Visit

Regrets

Countdown

Oversight

Crater

Threat

Astronaut

Journey

Christmas

Kasperl

Pepperl

Inhabitants on the moon

Grand-father

Saint Nicholas

Doctor

Dialect

Object coming to life

Letter

Apparition

Entrance from below stage

Die klingende Weihnachtskugel

La boule de Noël musicale

The play opens with a “Prologo in cielo” (prologue in the sky) during which the Teatro Vagante (an itinerant theatre) is brought down from the fly towers to the stage: the Teatro Vagante is at once a cave, a house, a cradle, a cart and a theatre. The actors have seen the theatre of the gods, which they have to try recreating now because “a mystery must be revealed”. The mystery is about a country where people are insatiable and keep wanting to eat fresh meat, even though resources are scarce. There are no cattle, an epidemic has broken out in the countryside and rubbish produced by their residents is piling up in the suburbs. This jungle of metal is thought to be the home of spirits called “rottamat”, which people believe to be responsible for the disappearance of several villagers. Everyone praises the butcher for his excellent meat, but he turns out to be an evil character who commits murders to supply meat for his shop. Just like the devil, he takes on numerous shapes: he is simultaneously the Butcher, the Father, the crazy man Matteo and the Emperor. Every morning, the Mother and the Father (the Butcher himself) wait for the butcher’s shop to open so they can buy the best meat, even when their son is in a hospital after having been attacked by the Father. The Mother flirts with the Butcher – who embodies her erotic ideal – until she becomes his victim. Nobody suspects the Butcher. Or maybe everybody keeps quiet so they can keep enjoying his excellent meat? The killings go on until all the villagers have eaten one another. Ultimately, only the Watchman understands that the Butcher is behind the murders, but even he is killed in the end. According to the actors of the Teatro Vagante, only hope remains: “even hell can be transformed – I hope”, one of the actors declares.

Glove-puppet

Brescia

Consumer society

Meat

Pollution

Famine

Cannibalism

Death

Ecology

Evil

Tragic

Grotesque

Lyrical

Giuliano Scabia, Fantastica visione, stage direction by Alessandro Marinuzzi, 1993.

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Il Novello Giasone

Teodosio il Giovane

Le Chevalier Soleie

Thors Hammer

Die klingende Weihnachtskugel

Fantastica visione

sopra il taglio e la vendita di carne con cenni alla questione degli attori, dell'arte, del teatro e del mercato generale degli oggetti nel disarmonico presente

Miséria

Dal Catai a Parigi

Angelica alla corte di Re Carlo

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