Synopsis

Balthazar, Caspar, Melchior, and Artaban are four magi expecting the birth of a great king. They have made a plan. If a new star appears, Artaban will make his way to Babylon to join the others on a journey to find the king. Meanwhile, Artaban sells all he has to purchase a sapphire, ruby, and pearl to give the new king. When the new star appears, Artaban sets out with his young servant Gill. When unforeseen obstacles arise, Artaban fails to catch up with the other magi or to find the king. Artaban continues his search for many years, dreaming strange dreams, meeting the gypsies, and having many adventures. When Artaban is an old man, he comes one day to Jerusalem where he learns about a man sentenced to be crucified. Realizing that this man may indeed be the king, Artaban tries desperately to find him. He then receives one last dream, after which the dreams become reality.

Notes

Target Audience

Young Audiences | Middle School | High School | College/University | Adult/Family (all ages) | Catholic and Christian audiences | Classical schools

Performing Group

Middle School | High School | College/University Theater | Community Theater | Professional Theater | Touring Group

Formats

Actors Edition

1. A digital printable 8.5×11” PDF script, 50 pages. Available from Bardstreet: this page and our store. Print and e-script versions coming in 2023.

Director/Stage Manager’s Edition ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ | ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Available from Bardstreet: this page and our store.

1. A digital printable 8.5×11” PDF edition to accompany the digital PDF Actor’s Edition script.  Comes with the invaluable Stage Guide with property list,  costume descriptions, doubling combinations, and more.

Licensing

Min. Royalty Rate: $50/performance. Actual royalty rate for performances will be determined during application for rights. Begin your application here.

The Other Wiseman was first performed at St. Boniface Church, Lafayette, Indiana on December 17, 2003 with a cast and crew of thirty-six and again December 19, 2004 with a cast and crew of forty-three.

Synopsis

Perpetua is perplexed when her son Arlecchino loses his apprenticeship, first at the bakery, and then at the butcher shop. But things begin to look up when Arlecchino apprentices with the court painter Brighella. For the king’s dreams are haunted by visions of a princess, the Flower of Beauty. Brighella despairs when the king orders him to paint a portrait of the Flower of Beauty. But Arlecchino volunteers to give it a try. When Arlecchino succeeds, the king takes him on a journey to find the princess. With her maid Columbina, the Princess Isabella is being held by enchantment in the tower of Il Dottore. When the king and Arlecchino free them, Il Dottore pronounces a terrible curse. How will they find a remedy?

Notes

A Fine Fiasco and The Flower of Beauty can be performed individually or paired with an optional intermission. The plays require minimal props and sets and lend themselves easily to street theater. No lighting changes are necessary. The plays employ a scene division inspired by French scenes, i.e., scenes divisions are marked by character entrances (but not their exits). If this division is not helpful, the director/production can use the alternate division of “Parts” which correspond to the longer scene lengths in regular plays. These modern Commedia plays are primarily composed of scripted lines. This is a departure from the original Commedia plays, which had far fewer set lines (and sometimes none!) However, the plays preserve the Commedia dell’Arte flavor by allowing traditional Commedia characters to present the play, and giving them ample opportunity for “lazzi” or “business,” improvisation, pantomime, music, dance, tumbling, sword-play, and recommendations for memorized poems to present as “stock speeches.”

Target Audience

Young Audiences | Middle School | High School | College/University | Adult/Family (all ages) | Catholic and Christian audiences | Classical schools

Performing Group

Middle School | High School | College/University Theater | Community Theater | Professional Theater | Touring Group

Formats

Actors Edition

1. A digital printable 8.5×11” PDF script, 59 pages. Available from Bardstreet: this page and our store.
2. 5×7.25” print perfect-bound script, 108 pages. Available from Amazon.
3. E-script/Kindle version available from Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Scribd and others. Alternately, check out the e-script from your local library or request your local library to add it to their catalogue through Overdrive, Hoopla, and other library partners.

Director/Stage Manager’s Edition ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ | ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Available from Bardstreet: this page and our store.

1. A digital printable 8.5×11” PDF edition to accompany the digital PDF Actor’s Edition script. 59 pages.
2. A digital printable 8.5×11” PDF edition to accompany the print perfect-bound Actor’s Edition script. 108 pages.

Both versions of the Director/Stage Manager’s Edition come with the invaluable Stage Guide with property list,  costume descriptions, doubling combinations, and more.

Licensing

Min. Royalty Rate: $50/performance. Actual royalty rate for performances will be determined during application for rights. Begin your application here.

Parts of Two Commedia dell’Arte Plays for the Modern Stage were first performed in Lafayette and West Lafayette, Indiana during the 2005 Summer Street Theater Festival through a generous grant from the Arts Federation.

The Flower of Beauty was first published January 11, 2023, on the feast of Bl. William Carter, printer, layman, martyr.