working process "La serva"
As already mentioned in the blog (link) explains, my concept for "La serva padrona" is on the one hand a Commedia Buffa, with elements of the Commedia dell'Arte, but also has elements of a psychological theater play. It is a love story between Serpina, a young girl whom Uberto took home as a child, raised and made his servant. He's a bachelor, maybe a philosopher who might have trouble with feelings. The story is how they approach in the end.
So we have two very different people in terms of age, cultural and social background. In between moves the THIRD figure of Vespone (Vespa means Sting). The one who ends up disguising himself as Capitan Tempesta helps overcome the situation and the two get together. But let's start from the beginning.
The place
The Pearl of Zeliszow is a former church that needs renovation. There is a simple and beautiful setting with beautiful light towards the evening. We keep this set design as natural as possible, only a few pieces of furniture are placed where the action takes place, not even a stage. The orchestra and the audience are in the same place, no boundary between actors, musicians and audience. Sometimes they even interact with each other.
THE ROLES
Uberto
I think Uberto is a very intelligent man, maybe an Enlightenment philosopher. Too much study and idealization of women makes him shy and he remains a bachelor. The actor should watch films with Leslie Howard, and in particular "Pygmalion", "The scarlet pimpernell" and "Pimpernell Smith". It's an aristocratic man who doesn't lose his composure easily, but when that happens it's very funny. He can be heroic under certain conditions and have humanist-revolutionary views, so marrying Serpina is not a problem. Costume circa 1780. Some pictures by Leslie Howard:
Serpina
A smart, free, natural and emancipated woman - intelligent. We don't know who it is. Uberto says he knows the secret of her birth. Maybe she is an illegitimate child of a friend. I see her a bit like Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion, the "new woman" of the early 20th century, Pippi Longstocking and Penelope Kruz in Curse of the Caraibi.
Vespone
Vespone is a commedia dell'arte maschera, but in my production it is an authentic Glinolud, Bogdan Nowak in his role "Papaglinolud", who creates his role as he wants, for example of a "Jocker" or the "Fool" of the Shakespeares plays. He can even involve other 2-3 Glinoludy in the action. In the first part he is a simple servant, naive but in the second part (as Capitan Tempesta) he dresses in pirate clothes from "Pirates of the Caraibean", i.e. hat, beard and a weapon and plays the role of a rebel soldier "Campten Storm" and makes real "casino". So he brings a change in the situation. Vespone can have a special character, specially created and with a comic element. For example, being forgetful, drinking or smoking, or he loves gardening and takes care of the plants. It can also be, that if we associate his role of the Fool with the flute-playing of Susan, sometimes in the recitatives, when he acts - may Susan improvise on his pantomime.
Bogdan should also give me aesthetic cues so that the whole thing has nice aesthetic poetics.
THE OPERA
Prelude (3:50 min)
At 5 p.m. in the Perle, the audience, musicians and people with baroque costumes (invited baroque clubs) mix. The audience has a chance to enjoy the space and take photos with these costumes. Around 5.50 p.m. the musicians begin to tune and Serpina and Uberto sit down at the table (reading and writing lessons). Uberto (place i) likes to smoke a pipe. Serpina (place g) writes. Vespone on the sofa (place f) does his job (or better, appears later as a surprise). At 6 p.m., she reads her lines in Italian, slowly, like Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion. This makes her beautiful and Uberto applauds. Gets up, kisses her appreciatively on the forehead (although she tends to get shy), and walks off (towards point C). Serpina looks dreamily in his direction and then the music begins (Vivaldi Gardellino Part 1. Allegro). Vespone appears like the "fool" - the flute playing of the little bird Gardellino is his music - wakes them from their daydreams, they have to work but they do it in a playful way. She dreams of freedom but Vespone wants her to work. Small fight scenes and friendship moments. In the end she takes her books and walks away (direction B climbs the stairs and goes to the bookstore and sits and reads while doing it). Vespone stays and is busy with something (arranging books, dusting, etc. tending flowers or just playing) he could also fall asleep on the sofa.
Intermezzo Teil 1 (20min)
La Serva Padrona (part 1). The music starts. Uberto comes from point C where he left. Looks at the clock, complains because Serpina didn't bring him the chocolate and philosophises to himself that he doesn't like it. He walks from C to A behind the pillars and sings to the audience - as if he were even speaking to them. Vespone wakes up and carefree does his work on the sofa f or in the room. Uberto sits down at the table (h), busy with his pipe. Uberto might help him with this incense ceremony or give him a newspaper and go back to his pantomime game. Uberto tells the story of Serpina that he is too good to her, that's why she has become so arrogant. He then tells Vespone to go to her.
Vespone goes to B, where Serpina is sitting upstairs reading her book, and tries to persuade her to come along. They run down and from B to C to A during the argument. Uberto hides behind a pillar behind h and watches. But she wants to be left alone, in the end she loses patience and starts hitting him. So you end up above right center A (level f), where Vespone falls to the floor or on the sofa and Serpina delicately hits him with her shoe. Uberto comes from behind, takes the shoe and tries to separate them. Gives Vespone his hand and lets him stand up. He hides behind Uberto, scared, and tries to speak, but Uberto tells him to be quiet. Etc etc until the end of the first part. Uberto goes back to the C. Vespone left before the jacket, hat and walking stick duet to the C. Serpina stays behind and thinks. Vivaldi Gardellino part 2. Cantabile (2.30 min)
Little interlude
On the one hand, Serpina is sure that she will win, but she is still sad that the man does not notice her. She lies down on the sofa and turns around, we have the feeling she is sad. Susan on the flute (behind her) appears to be playing for her. Vespone appears from C or B and very quietly approaches and watches them. He notices that she is sad and we see that he is thinking. Then she tries to cheer up. She doesn't want to see him, turns to the other side. We can see her face. Vespone performs a soothing pantomime that makes her laugh. He comes to her and she starts pantomiming and explaining to him. That way they get up and go back to B and keep talking until Uberto from C appears.
Quiet. Maybe a little improvisation with the continuo drawing an approaching storm. Interlude part 2.
INTERMEZZO Part 2
Serpina with Vespone stops speaking (pantomime) and Serpina says "ora che ti sei fatto dalla mia parte etc". Uberto appears from C and moves towards E (io crederei etc.) ... speaks with irony to himself but also to the audience.
Serpina with Vespone observes and comments behind the pillars between B and D. From pillar to pillar, Serpina hides Vespone in room D and moves towards E. Meanwhile, Uberto has gone to A, but he notices Serpina at table level and speaks to her. She approaches him and they continue their conversation right in front of the table, etc. In the end, Serpina disappears into Room D and returns after Uberto's aria with Tempesta, appearing like Zorro from behind the curtain of Room D.
He's disguised as a pirate and has either a sword or a pistol and controls the whole room with rage. Every time he moves furiously, Continuo accompanies his movements with music.
He stands at the beginning of E. Uberto, who, at the end of his aria, has turned his back on the audience, turns and stretches. Then comes Temposta direction A and then direction behind f and everywhere. etc - At the end, while Serpina and Uberto sing their last duet ("Contento tu sarai" with a choreography that ends at the sofa, prepare Vespone and Glinoludzie presents the table, they enlarge it, bring cups, fruit and wine and bread and chairs.
At the end of the duet, Serpina and Uberto sit down at the center table (under the light near the A) and make a brindisi. All other Glinoludzie sit down and PHOTO.
In this photo we have the end of the opera The orchestra begins the finale (Vivaldi Gardellino Vivaldi, part 3 Allegro) and everyone moves again but in pantomime. It's a carnival scene. Vespone dances and pours wine, the audience is invited to join in. In this generally happy atmosphere and with everyone laughing and even singing out loud at the end, the opera ends.
If it's too short, we can play another piece. Applause. Szczepan had the idea during the applause, the musicians and actors bow in front of the audience to the rhythm of the music. Also the Ensemble musicians interrupt one by one playing for bow and then turn to play. We have to choose the music that suits you best, e.g. the last aria by Uberto or the last duet or the duet that we don't play ( "per te ho io net cuore").