ACT ONE

OVERTURE

SCENE ONE: LORENZO
Lorenzo enters singing “One coin, one song” as he wanders through the streets of the village, over the stone bridge, and into a park-like setting. Under the starlit sky, Lorenzo plays his hurdy-gurdy and sings the praises of his carefree life as a wandering minstrel but his joyful refrain turns into a song of lament. Lorenzo has no one to love on this beautiful night.

SCENE TWO: LITTLE VINA
The vinetender Little Vina, answers Lorenzo’s call of “One coin, one song” and enters from the vineyard holding a coin for all to see. Lorenzo assumes the young maiden also has thoughts of love “on a lovely night like this,” but in a cleverly constructed duet, Little Vina makes her true intentions known. She needs a miracle and San Geno, the patron saint of the vineyard, has sent Lorenzo to sweeten the grapes with music. Lorenzo obliges the vinetender with a lively gig and Little Vina exits the stage dancing.

SCENE THREE: BISCOTTI
Lorenzo resumes singing “One coin, one song” but once again it turns into a song of lament. The baker Biscotti, now answers Lorenzo’s call and enters from the village holding a coin. The fiercely proud Scottish-Italian sings of his noble heritage and loudly proclaims to Lorenzo that the song he played for Little Vina was the Royal Gig of the Family Biscotti. With another coin in his pocket, Lorenzo replays the gig for the sentimental baker. Biscotti exits the stage weeping tears of joy.

SCENE FOUR: SENOR LIRA
The banker Senor Lira, now enters. Lorenzo hails the well-dressed gentleman but Senor Lira completely ignores the minstrel. A man of Lira’s position has no time for sentiment. Nevertheless, Lorenzo plays the beautiful ballad “Ah, beauty…” for the banker. Maybe the music will “open his heart to love,” Lorenzo sings.

SCENE FIVE: PEPPERONI AND RAVIOLI
Expanding upon the theme of the ballad, Lorenzo now speaks about the beauty of this Tuscan night. Suddenly, a shooting-star streaks across the sky. This sign of good fortune lifts Lorenzo’s spirits and he relates in song the legend of the great lovers Pepperoni and Ravioli. When stardust from a shooting-star fell on Pepperoni and Ravioli, fate sealed their love. And as a symbol of their eternal devotion to each other, Pepperoni climbed to the sky and gave Ravioli a star. “Now all I need is a girl!” Lorenzo says with great anticipation. He waits… and waits… and waits… until he falls asleep at the base of the statue of San Geno.

INTERMISSION
At this time, there will be a brief discussion about opera by Mr. Weatherall.

ACT TWO

SCENE ONE: THE ARGUMENT
Senor Lira returns to speak to Lorenzo but retreats into the shadows when Bella Spaghetti and Fettucinne Alfredo enter. Bella is riding on a horse that is led by Alfredo. He helps Bella dismount and they embrace. Unaware of the sleeping minstrel and the curious banker, the young couple speak tenderly of love but their conversation rapidly escalates into a silly argument. As the lovers’ musical spat builds to a crescendo, Lorenzo wakes up and he is immediately smitten by the strong-willed Bella. Eventually, the quarrel comes to a conclusion. “Dis town she’s a no too big for the both of us!” Alfredo declares. He rides off on his horse leaving Spaghetti behind.

SCENE TWO: LORENZO AND BELLA
The chorus of trees and grapevines coax the shy minstrel into action and he tries to comfort the sobbing beauty. In a comical duet, Lorenzo and Bella Spaghetti explore their hopelessly romantic visions of love and their mutual admiration for the lovers Pepperoni and Ravioli. Still, Bella is overcome with emotion and she breaks down. Lorenzo tries to soothe Bella with a love song but he is humorously interrupted by Little Vina, then Biscotti, and finally by Senor Lira. Yet Lorenzo endures the many distractions and sings a lovely reprise of “Ah, beauty…” to the distraught maiden who has fallen asleep.

SCENE THREE: THE GRANDE BALLET
Senor Lira has been deeply touched by the words and actions of the gentle minstrel. Along with San Geno, the trees, and the grapevines, Senor Lira joins Lorenzo in a dream sequence celebrating Lorenzo’s love for Spaghetti. This “Grande Ballet” serves as the climax of the opera by exploring Lorenzo’s psyche. As the ballet unfolds, the lovers are torn apart by the appearance of the Black Knight, who represents Lorenzo’s own fears and loneliness. The Black Knight has come to kidnap the fair Bella but Lorenzo overcomes those fears and in a dramatic battle, he defeats the evil knight. Lorenzo is a hero. He has rescued Bella Spaghetti and the ballet builds to the final climax when Lorenzo tries to imitate the great lover Pepperoni and attempts to pluck a star from the sky. Unfortunately, the star falls unexpectedly and hits Lorenzo on the head. Lorenzo is dazed and stumbles around the stage. As if things could not get any worse for Lorenzo, Alfredo enters and sees the star lying on the ground. He carries the star to Bella Spaghetti and with a sprinkle of stardust he awakens her. Overjoyed, Spaghetti embraces Alfredo when he presents the star to her and the reunited lovers quickly exit the stage on Alfredo’s horse.

SCENE FOUR: THE SOLILOQUY
The mood of the opera now shifts from Lorenzo’s unbounded optimism to one of sadness and loss. When he comes to his senses, Lorenzo finds that Bella Spaghetti has gone and he is terribly broken-hearted. Senor Lira, who was frolicking under the spell of love only minutes ago, is devastated as Lorenzo surrenders all hope of loves return. Then in a surprisingly upbeat and insightful soliloquy, Lorenzo puts a positive spin on his brush with love and says,”There are so many stars in the sky.” At peace with himself, Lorenzo lies down at the base of the statue of San Geno and closes his eyes to sleep.

SCENE FIVE: CONCLUSION
In appreciation for opening his heart to love, Senor Lira sings a lovely song in praise of the kind minstrel and places a coin at Lorenzo’s side. Biscotti follows with a song and a loaf of bread for Lorenzo because on this night Lorenzo’s gig had aroused wonderful memories of the baker’s family. Little Vina enters with a bottle of wine as a gift because Lorenzo had indeed sweetened the grapes with his song. Then Bella Spaghetti and Fettuccine Alfredo appear. Spaghetti lays the star next to Lorenzo and she kisses him on the forehead. The entire cast and chorus now raise their voices and sing a stirring lullaby to Lorenzo. “Wish on a star and your dreams will come true, some day love will come.”

THE END