CHARACTERS

Canio, the leader of the commedia dell’arte troupe; takes the role of Pagliaccio, the clown, in the play

Nedda, the troupe’s leading actress, married to Canio but secretly in love with Silvio; plays Colombina, married to Pagliaccio but in love with Arlecchino

Tonio, the fool of the troupe; plays Taddeo, Colombina’s servant

Beppe, an actor; plays Arlecchino

Silvio, a villager and Nedda’s lover

In a prologue, Tonio enters dressed as the fool and speaks to the audience directly. He hints of the story they are about to see and reminds them that actors are real people who experience emotions and passions, as they do.

In a village, the townspeople eagerly cheer the arrival of a commedia dell’arte troupe. Canio, Nedda, Tonio, and Beppe, all dressed as their characters, drum up business. But when Tonio offers Nedda a hand, Canio angrily helps her himself, threatening violence against any man who touches his wife.

Nedda is disturbed by Canio’s vehemence, and she worries that he suspects her secret. Tonio returns and confesses his love for her, but she laughs at him. When Tonio tries to assault her, she strikes back at him. Tonio retreats, vowing his revenge. Silvio, a young man of the village who is Nedda’s lover, enters; he has just left the tavern where Canio and Beppe are drinking. Silvio and Nedda embrace and agree to run away together. Tonio, who has been listening, leaves to warn Canio, and the two rush back to catch Nedda’s lover, but Silvio escapes before they can identify him. Canio is enraged and demands Nedda tell him who he is; she refuses. He pulls a knife on her, but Beppe disarms him and persuades everyone to get ready for the show, as the audience is beginning to arrive. Tonio whispers to Canio that Nedda’s lover will reveal himself during the performance. Alone, Canio prepares to become the clown.

Nedda, dressed as Colombina, collects money from the audience as they arrive and whispers a warning to Silvio as he joins the crowd. The play begins: Colombina’s husband is out and she is waiting for her lover Arlecchino, who serenades her. Her servant Taddeo confesses his love, but she and Arlecchino mock him. The lovers dine and plan to elope. Taddeo bursts back in with a warning of Pagliaccio’s arrival, and Arlecchino escapes.

Pagliaccio enters and confronts Colombina, but Canio quickly loses control of himself and demands to know the name of his wife’s lover. Nedda tries to bring him back to the plot of the play, calling him “Pagliaccio,” but Canio’s anger only escalates. The audience cheers, unaware of the rising tension. Beppe tries to intervene, but Tonio stops him. Silvio fights his way through the crowd. Nedda steadfastly refuses to reveal her love, and Canio explodes with rage…