Fantaghiro the beautiful

Fanta-Ghirò

1.     Prima scena

      

NARRATOR- There is a king who has three daughters: Carolina, Assuntina, and Fantaghirò, a very beautiful girl.

The king has three chairs : a  light blue chair, a black chair and a red one.

When he sits on the light blue chair he is  merry, the black chair means death and the red one means war.

One day the three girls see their father sitting on the red chair.

Carolina - What happens , father?

King-   The king of Valsole declared war against me and I don’t know who will lead my army.

I’m too old and sick. How can I find a brave general?

Carolina- If  you agree, I will lead  your army. I think I will be able to.

k- The war isn’t a woman’s affair.

C .- Let me try, please.

K – Let’s try but keep attention: if you talk about woman’s things during the way, you come back  home.

N – The king calls his best squire .

K – Take my daughter to the king of Valsole’s palace . if she talks about woman’s things  during the way, bring her back home.

2.     Seconda  scena

N – Carolina and the squire leave the palace, followed by the army. They gallop and gallop but when they arrive near a pond….

C – Look , what  a lot of  beautiful reeds. They would be useful to spin!

S –Sorry, princess. We must go back home. You talk about woman’s things.

3.      Terza scena

N –The princess, the squire and the soldiers go backwards.

The day after Assuntina  goes to the king.

A – I would like to lead your soldiers. Let me try, father.

K –  Let’s try, but remember what I told your sister yesterday.

A – All right , father !

4.      Quarta scena

N – The princess, the squire, followed by the army, leave the palace. They  gallop and gallop but when they go through the wood…….

A – Look at this trees! They are thin and straight as poles to spin the wool.

S – Stop , princess. I must bring you back home. You told me about woman’s things.

5.  Quinta  scena

N – The princess, the squire and the soldiers go back home.

When the king sees them he is very sad.

Fanta-ghirò goes to talk with  him

F – Let me lead your soldiers, father.

K – Absolutely not ! you are too young.

F – Let me try, father . I’ll beg you!.

K – Let’s try.

N –   Fantaghirò puts on the armour and the  helmet . She draws the sword and leaves on horse with the squire.

6.  Sesta  scena

N – The princes, the squire  and the soldiers leave the palace. They  pass through the beautiful reeds and the poplar wood: the princess doesn’t talk about  woman’s thinks.

Finally they arrive to the king of Valsole’s  palace.

7. Settima  scena

F – I would like to talk to  the king about the war.

Servant – Yes, general

N .- The king of Valsole  is beautiful, young and kind and when he sees Fantaghirò…

KV –“ I think  she is  a young girl and not a general!”

Please , come with me  , so we can talk about the war.

N – After the meeting the king talks about  Fantaghirò to his mother .

KV – Fantaghirò –  persona bella

      Ha gli occhi neri e dolce la favella.

      Mamma mia, mi pare una donzella.

Mother – Bring the general to the armoury  . If the general is a woman, she doesn’t care about swords and shields.

                                                        8. Ottava scena

F – Oh what  beautiful swords and shields! What  beautiful guns   

 I like your armoury.

KV – I’m very disappointed. The  general   knows  weapons  like a man. 

Anyway ,  I think  she is a girl.

      “ Fantaghirò – Fantaghirò persona bella

      Ha gli occhi neri e dolce la favella.

       Mamma mia, mi pare una donzella.”

M – Take your general into garden. If she is  a girl, she will pick up  a red rose  .  If he is a man he will pick up a white  jasmine.

9. Nona scena

 

KV – This is my garden. It’s full of flowers and plants

F- It’s beautiful.

N. Fantaghirò picks up a white jasmine.

Valsole is confused and talks to his mother.

 I think she is a girl!

          Fantaghirò – Fantaghirò persona bella

          Ha gli occhi neri e dolce la favella.

          Mamma mia, mi pare una donzella.

N – The king is in love with her !

M – Take the general in the swimming pool to have a bath.

 If he is girl she will refuse it.

10.  Decima  scena

KV – Would you like to have a bath in the swimming pool?

F – Oh yes, but tomorrow morning.

F – Squire, squire, come here !

 Come here tomorrow morning taking a message for me: the king, your father  is ill  and he wants to see you.

N – The next morning…

KV – Come, l let’s have a bath!

F – Oh! I’m not well this morning! ( why isn’t  the squire  coming?)

KV – Come, come into the water!

F – Oh I’m  sorry, I feel ill.

       Look my squire is coming  in a hurry.

F – Oh I’m sorry, King.  I’m very sad, my father is ill and I have to leave now.

N – Before going, Fantaghirò leaves a note on the table  in her room.

   “ donna è venuta e donna se ne va” . ma riconosciuta il re non l’ha.

     Woman came and woman goes away, but the king doesn’t Know her”

KV – I’m right ! she  is a woman!

    I leave immediately!

11.  Undicesima scena

N – The king follows Fantaghirò and when he arrives at the palace….

KV –I’d like to talk to Fantaghirò.

KV- I’m in love with you and… I want to merry you.

F –  I love you,too.

N – So Fantaghirò become the queen of both  kingdoms.

Valsole and Fantaghirò  live happily ever after.