The Flower of Beauty

A Short Comedy Adapted for the Stage from "The Flower of Beauty" in Tales of Enchantment from Spain

Part of the Series: Commedia dell'Arte Plays for the Modern Stage

ACTOR'S EDITION

Perpetua is perplexed when her son Arlecchino loses his apprenticeship, first at the bakery, and then at the butcher shop. But things begin to look up when Arlecchino apprentices with the court painter Brighella. For the king's dreams are haunted by visions of a princess, the Flower of Beauty. Brighella despairs when the king orders him to paint a portrait of the Flower of Beauty. But Arlecchino volunteers to give it a try. When Arlecchino succeeds, the king takes him on a journey to find the princess. With her maid Columbina, the princess Isabella is being held by enchantment in the tower of Il Dottore. When the king and Arlecchino free them, Il Dottore pronounces a terrible curse. How will they find a remedy?

Cast Size: (with doubling) 8 overall: 5m; 3w. May be expanded to 6m, 4w, 3m/w.

Approximate Running Time: 55–65 min. Two Acts with optional intermission (can be performed as a One Act Play).

Time Period: A short time or a long time ago.

Setting: Far away, in a place a little like Italy and another place a little like Spain. Can be staged in minimalist fashion, without sets or backdrops.

Min. Royalty Rate: Contact Bardstreet for licensing inquiry.

Target Audience: Young Audiences, Middle School, High School, College/University, Adult/Family (all ages), Catholic and Christian audiences, Classical schools

Performing Group: Middle School, High School, College/University Theater, Community Theater, Professional Theater, Touring Group

Note: This modern Commedia play is composed primarily of scripted lines. This is a departure from the original Commedia plays, which had far fewer set lines (and sometimes none!). However, the series preserves the Commedia dell'Arte flavor by allowing traditional Commedia characters to present the play, and giving them ample opportunity for "lazzi" or "business," improvisation, pantomime, music, dance, tumbling, sword-play, and recommendations for memorized poems to present as "stock speeches."