Cast
Jeryl Hoover - Gianni Schicchi
Nicole Franklin - Lauretta
Alex Richardson - Rinuccio
Nancy Markeloff - Zita
Matt Oglesby - Gherardo
Brandon Gibson - Simone
Brian Kuhnert - Betto
John Dooley - Marco
Andrea Kiesling - La Ciesca
Desiree Alejandro - Nella
Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi
March 27, 2010 – 7:30 p.m.
Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts
Synopsis
The greedy relatives of the wealthy Buoso Donati gather at his deathbed to mourn his passing and investigate the details of his will. There are rumors that the old man has left nearly everything to a monastery. If his will has not been filed with a notary, however, there is still hope for the relatives, who begin a frantic search for the document. Young Rinuccio finds it and makes his Aunt Zita promise to let him marry his beloved Lauretta if there is enough money. They read the will, which proves the rumors were true; the relatives finally shed genuine tears. Rinuccio suggests that Lauretta’s father, Gianni Schicchi, a shrewd self-made man, can help them: this new breed of peasant-turned-businessman will invigorate Florence, which the young man compares to a tree in full flower (“Firenze è come un albero fiorito”).
Schicchi appears with Lauretta. Disgusted by the hypocrisy and avarice of the aristocratic family, Schicchi is about to leave but decides to stay when Lauretta proclaims her intention to marry Rinuccio (“O mio babbino caro”). Reading the will, Schicchi devises a plan to impersonate the dead man. He sends Lauretta home and orders the body removed from the bed. The doctor arrives to check on Buoso, but Schicchi’s voice convinces the addled doctor that the patient is improving. Schicchi tells the relatives to send for the notary and, putting on Buoso’s nightshirt and cap, promises to dictate a new will. The relatives each try to get a promise from Schicchi that he will leave the best parts of the estate to them.
Schicchi agrees with every secret request and warns each that they must keep the secret forever or face the punishment as accessories to a fraud—a hand cut off and eternal banishment from Florence. The notary arrives with witnesses, and Schicchi dictates that the great part of the estate, including the house they are all in, is to be left to his good friend Gianni Schicchi! The relatives are furious but can say nothing, and when the notary leaves they fall on Schicchi and steal what they can from the house. Schicchi orders them out of his house and points to the young lovers, standing out on the terrace gazing at the blossoming city. Turning to the audience, he points out how happy his fraud has made the young lovers, and pleads for a verdict of not guilty.
(Synopsis courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera.)
Buoso’s Ghost: A sequel to Gianni Schicchi
By Michael Ching
Synopsis
Buoso’s Ghost begins with the final bars of Puccini’s beloved opera. As the curtain rises, we see Lauretta and Rinnuccio, arm in arm, planning their future. Feeling the proud father, Schicchi, looks on as the couple go off to buy their wedding ring and then sets about straightening the house. He sees some food and wine that the relatives brought and sits down for a snack – quickly discovering that the food and drink have been poisoned by Buoso Donati’s relatives.
He is interrupted by a knock at the door. Two brothers have come to collect on Buoso Donati's will. Schicchi shows them the "revised" document and they leave in shock. Alone, Schicchi imagines the relatives making their plans to poison old Uncle Buoso.
As the relatives approach, Schicchi scribbles a note and tucks it into Buoso's nightshirt. They have come screaming for blood and just as they are about to beat Schicchi senseless, a magistrate arrives to try the case.
The relatives immediately assume an air of mourning and then angrily accuse Schicchi of murdering uncle Buoso. As Schicchi beseeches them for mercy, he sneaks up to each one and tells them that he knows that they have poisoned Buoso's food and drink. Stunned and worried, they quickly switch gears – each group of relatives offering Schicchi a bribe if he will blame somebody else, but Schicchi makes no promises.
When Old Simone refuses to accuse Schicchi, the magistrate does so himself. The relatives remain apprehensive as Schicchi defends himself. Sobbing, he goes over to Uncle Buoso's body, falls on the corpse and pulls out the note and reads: Uncle Buoso has committed suicide. All are shocked at this horrible sin. The magistrate is miffed that he can't condemn Schicchi and leaves.
Alone, the relatives realize that Schicchi has outwitted them again. Jokingly, Betto says that they will eventually get the money back when Rinnuccio and Lauretta get married. They realize they can just kill Schicchi now and inherit everything.
Overhearing this, Schicchi hides behind the body, blows out the candles and summons the ghost of Buoso Donati to scare the family from the house.
In an echo of the end of the Puccini, Schicchi comes downstage and asks the audience to forgive the upstart composer for writing the sequel.
