Le stravaganze di Facanapa (Facanapa’s eccentricities) is part of a series of texts written for puppets, Raccolta di commediole, and released by G. Chiopris, a publishing house from Trieste. The theme of the play echoes that of texts written for actor theatre, and is meant for a family audience. Here, the characters do not align with those of the Commedia dell’arte or from the tradition: here, for example, Facanapa plays the role of a rich uncle.

Rosaura, a young woman, and Doralice, an elderly widow, talk about an admirer who has been sending flowers and gifts to Rosaura. Doralice advises her to accept his courting, but Rosaura is in love with Florindo, who is poor. Rosaura receives a bouquet, a ring and a note, all thrown on the sill of her window by Facanapa, Count of Castelbianco. She decides to let him come up, so that she can give him his gifts back. She sends Arlecchino to meet the Count, who reacts by hitting him. Facanapa enters Rosaura’s room through the window. She asks Arlecchino to make him leave, but Facanapa kicks him again before paying him to become his servant. Pantalone, Rosaura’s father, is annoyed by the presence of the Count in his daughter’s bedroom after she has explained the situation to him. Pantalone agrees to rent Rosaura’s bedroom to the Count for the night. Florido arrives and angrily requests compensation. The Count has Florindo then Pantalone tied up to a chair by Arlecchino. The Count informs Pantalone that he is wealthy, and is planning on marrying Rosaura without asking for a dowry. Pantalone agrees, even though he thinks that the Count is slightly odd. The latter explains that he wanted proof of the love between the two young lovers and of the greediness of Pantalone, who was willing to give his daughter to anybody regardless of their identity. To everyone’s surprise, he marries Rosaura and Florindo and reveals that he is the rich uncle of the orphan Florindo, and that he comes from America. He says that he will give the newlyweds luxurious presents and properties in Veneto if he receives their affection. He also wants to keep Arlecchino, who is only too happy to serve him.