Characters
Cenerentola (Angelina) - The Cinderella in our story. A kind woman who is forced to be her family's servant.
Prince Ramiro - The prince who is searching the kingdom to find a bride.
Don Magnifico - Cenerentola's cruel stepfather.
Clorinda and Tisbe - Cenerentola's stepsisters who ruthlessly mock her.
Alidoro - The Prince's tutor.
Dandini - The Prince's valet.
Summary
Cenerentola, mistreated by her stepfamily, shows kindness to a disguised prince.
With his tutor’s help, she secretly attends his ball, where she declares love for the prince’s "valet." Leaving him a bracelet, she is later found, forgives her family, and marries the prince, fulfilling a tale of virtue rewarded.
Synopsis
Act 1.
Angelina is cleaning her home and is forced to be a servant by her stepfather, Don Magnifico, and stepsisters, Clorinda and Tisbe. She is treated poorly by her cruel family, who mockingly name her Cenerentola (Cinderella). While performing her daily chores, Cenerentola sings a song about her favorite story: a king marries a poor but kind woman instead of another rich but vain woman. Her stepsisters and stepfather argue around her when a beggar knocks at the door. Cenerentola shows him kindness and food against Clorinda's, and Tisbe's wishes. Before the beggar leaves, a band of courtiers enters, announcing that Prince Ramiro is searching for a bride and will be there shortly! Don Magnifico, Cenerentola's stepfather, sees the prince's arrival as the perfect opportunity to recover his lost fortune. All he needs to do is convince the prince to marry one of his daughters, and they leave to prepare for his arrival.
The beggar, now alone, greets Prince Ramiro, who arrives disguised as the valet. But the beggar is not who he seems—he is actually the prince’s tutor! Together, they speak of their strategy to find a good and kindhearted woman by concealing their identities and meeting the women without the trappings of royalty. Alidoro, the tutor, reveals to Ramiro that a kind woman lives here. Before they can speak more, Cenerentola enters and spots Ramiro and the two are instantly attracted to one another. But when he asks her name, she leaves before he can learn her identity.
Prince Ramiro's real valet, Dandini, arrives at Don Magnifico's estate disguised as the prince. Upon his arrival, the family, sans Cenerentola, do everything they can to flatter the 'prince.' He offers to have them at his upcoming ball, where he will choose his queen. Cenerentola asks if she, too, can attend the festivities, and Magnifico scoffs and refuses to let her come with them. Alidoro inquires about the third daughter, who is said to live there. Magnifico claims she died and threatens Cenerentola not to reveal herself. The still-disguised prince notes their cruel demeanor. Alidoro promises to take her to the ball when they are alone and says she will be rewarded for her kindness.
The royal group leaves to go to Ramiro's country estate, wondering who the virtuous woman Ramiro found to be his queen was since none were found among the daughters of Don Magnifico. Dandini devises a test for the sisters when they arrive to discover who between the two is the virtuous woman Alidoro described. He tells them that whichever sister does not marry the prince is welcome to marry his 'valet.' Clorinda and Tisbe are repulsed at the notion of marrying a servant. Alidoro arrives with a mysterious guest that strangely resembles Cenerentola. This confuses the party, but they sit down to supper with the strange feeling of being in a dream.
Act 2.
After the dinner, Don Magnifico worries about what the mysterious stranger (Cenerentola) will mean for his daughters' chances with the prince. But she is not interested in the 'prince' and instead declares she is in love with the 'valet.' Ramiro is ecstatic and goes to Cenerentola. She tells him that she wishes to leave alone but that if he loves her, he will find her. She gives him a bracelet that matches one of her own. The determined prince promises he will see her again. Meanwhile, Magnifico puts pressure on Dandini to choose his bride. He tries to put him off but buckles under the pressure and admits he is not the prince. Magnifico gathers his daughters and leaves in a fit of fury.
Cenerentola, no longer dressed in her finery, greets the angry Magnifico as they return home from the fruitless venture. They order her to serve them as they recover from the disappointment. Outside of their home, a storm beats down Ramiro's carriage while he is on his way to find the mysterious stranger. Alidoro aids the prince by sabotaging the carriage, causing it to break down in front of Cenerentola's home and he must go inside for help. Once inside, Ramiro sees the bracelet on Cenerentola's arm! They reunite, and he chastises her family for all they had done to her; she asks him to forgive her cruel family.
Ramiro and Cenerentola are married and celebrate their wedding at the palace. Magnifico tries to win the new princess's favor, but she only asks to be acknowledged, at last, as his daughter. She reflects on her past misfortune and the sudden reversal of her fate, then forgives her family for all her past unhappiness, adding that her days of sitting sadly by the fire are over. Everyone acknowledges that she truly is worthy of the throne.
Comments