 CARRISIMA
Book and lyrics by Eric
Maschwitz from a story by Armin Robinson: Music by Hans May.
Palace Theatre, London - 10 March, 1948 (488 perfs)
A career woman fall under the spell of Venice in the spring and with
the golden voice of a gondolier who is, in fact, the opera singer whom
she has been trying to recruit for commercial radio on behalf of the
domestic company for whom she works. The dénouement takes place
in New York.
Story
ESCAPING from Lisa Marvin, an ambitious American business woman who
has been pestering him to sing on her radio programme, Paolo Marinelli,
famous baritone, returns to his birthplace, Venice, for a holiday incognito.
In the Piazza Felice, Paolo renews acquaintanceship with many old friends,
among them his childhood's sweetheart, the beautiful and jealous Giulietta
Binci.
In pursuit of Paolo, Lisa searches Venice in company with her friends,
Maggie the English widow of an Italian nobleman, and Lord Poleigh, a fortune-hunting
English peer. On the night of Carnival she hears Paolo, masquerading as
a gondolier (his one-time profession) serenading Giulietta. She makes
up her mind that the "unknown gondolier " shall be given singing lessons
and so use him in her broadcast in place of Marinelli. Determined to teach
the American woman a lesson, Paolo and his friends keep up the pretence.
In the course of his voice training, Paolo discovers the romantic side
of Lisa's nature and begins to fall in love with her. The new perfume
Carissima, which the broadcast is to advertise, is named after the first
word of endearment he speaks to her. On the night of the broadcast, however,
Giulietta in a fit of jealousy publicly announces the hoax that has been
played on Lisa - and Lisa, bitterly hurt, breaks off the programme and
returns to America.
A year later Paolo, still in love and very unhappy, is singing in a musical
show in New York. He meets Lisa in a night club on the evening of her
engagement to Lord Poleigh, and after being "cut " by her, decides to
throw up his stage career and return to Venice. Thanks, however, to the
activities of Maggie and of Giulietta, who now repents her actions, Lisa
watches a T.V. broadcast of Paolo's show, listens to his love songs, realises
where her heart lies and joins him, as he is about to fly off to Italy,
in one of the most effective and unusual finales in operetta. |
|
Musical Numbers
Overture ACT I
- Venice in Spring (Caporelli and Chorus)
- Festa Bella (Chorus)
- Santa Rosa (Paolo with Chorus)
- Duet: ''When We Were Young (Paolo and Giulietta with Chorus)
- Entrance of Maggie and Poleigh
- Duet : Do Come and Call at the Castle (Maggie and Poleigh)
- Fall In and Follow America (Lisa, Bazzini and Chorus)
- Carnival and Ballet - (Chorus)
- Two In a Gondola (Paolo)
- Entrance of Revellers
- Two in a Gondola (Paolo, Giulietta and Chorus)
- I'll be Waiting for Love (Lisa and Chorus)
- The Return of Paolo (Paolo and Chorus)
- Finaletto (Paolo and Chorus)
ACT II
- Entr'acte Music.
- Opening of Act II (Paolo and Chorus)
- The Mad Manettas (Paolo, Caporello, Bazzini, Binci, and Chorus)
- Far in the Blue (Lisa and Paolo)
- Here's a Health (Barolo with Male Chorus)
- The Harlequinade Ballet.
- Let me Live! Let me Love! (Giulietta and Chorus)
- You Look Good to Me (Maggie and Poleigh)
- Small Cafe (Lisa and Paolo)
- Television Test (Paolo Off-stage)
- Carissima (Paolo with Chorus)
- End of Act II
ACT III
- Entr'acte
- Opening Dance and Rum-Beguine (Girl Singer and Ballet)
- Television Music Off-stage
- This is Good-bye (Giulietta, Paolo, and Chorus)
- Airport Music
- Finale : Far in the Blue (Lisa, Paolo, Giuulietta, and Chorus)
|
