Il fidanzamento di Pulcinella (Pulcinella’s engagement) is a classic play for Neapolitan guarattelle, which was already written about in 19th century books on glove puppetry in Naples. It has likely belonged to Zampella’s repertory since the beginning of his career in 1946. It is rarely played nowadays. Like the other plays of the repertory that is said to be “traditional”, it can be followed by one or several scenes (Death, the Arrest, the Trial, the Confession or the Hanging scenes).

This version was played in 1981 in Ischia, when Zampella was working with the booth and the puppets of his disciple Bruno Leone. After retiring as a guarattellaro and selling his puppets and his booth to historian Roberto Leydi, Zampella had indeed begun working again to perfect Leone’s training. This recording thus documents the show as it was performed at a decisive moment in the passing down of guarattelle.

Before beginning the show, the puppeteer asks the audience to remain silent, “to listen, to understand, to whistle, to make pernacchi” (mocking sounds made with the mouth which Pulcinella will accept as though they were applauses). Pulcinella arrives on stage and dances with his fiancée Teresina. Then he goes under her balcony to sing a serenade. Teresina’s father arrives and asks Pulcinella for explanations. When he learns that Teresina is Pulcinella’s fiancée, the father goes fetch his daughter so that Pulcinella can speak to her. Pulcinella tells Teresina that he wants to marry her. She agrees on condition that he asks for her brother’s approval to marry her. Nicola – her brother – is very suspicious and jealous. Nicola refuses, as he does not wish for her sister to marry such an ugly, unpleasant and odd man. They both fight by striking each other with a stick and Pulcinella kills Nicola. He takes the dead man to the cemetery, into a coffin. Here, Death plays tricks on him. Then, He (Death) strikes Pulcinella with a stick and they both fight. But in the middle of the fight, a guappo (gangster) comes on, replaces Death and receives a stroke of Pulcinella’s cane. They begin to fight each other and Pulcinella kills him. He carries the dead on his shoulders and shouts like a ragman: “o sapunaar! Rat’m’ e vestit’ san’, v’ ronc’ e piatt’ scassat’!” (ragman! Give me all your nice clothes and I’ll give you broken dishes”). Pulcinella, now free, goes prepare the papers for his marriage and dances with Teresina.