Giovanni the Fearless: A Commedia Dell’Arte Folk Opera
Book and Lyrics by Carolyn Balducci / Music by Mira J. Spektor / Directed by Lissa Moira /
Music Direction by Cristina Dinella / Projections by Bank Street Films
Theater for the New City, East Village, NYC
Giovanni The Fearless is a family-friendly commedia dell’arte folk opera about the power of love, a troupe of traveling actors, an old castle, two young lovers, and a couple of ghosts. When Giovanni encounters the Bombasto Family commedia troupe, he becomes enchanted with the star of the show, the beautiful Colombina. Tricked by Colombina’s father and siblings into believing that a treasure lies hidden in a nearby haunted castle, he deals first with a fake Ghost (a giant puppet constructed by the Bombastos), and then an actual Ghost. In the end, he discovers that the real treasure is his love for Colombina. Spectacular projections by Bank Street Films, clowning, tumbling, puppetry, special effects and on-stage musicians enhance this romantic musical comedy.
Reviews
"The music is beautiful, the talent great, and the reality of true love wedges itself right into the fabricated mess of these actors' lives. Giovanni the Fearless gives the feeling of an impending thunderstorm that, when it hits, leaves the world cleansed and new (slightly muggy, but that might just be the accumulating fog in the background) - that is the joy of seeing this musical.”
— Kristen Morale / BroadwayWorld