Frizzi Lazzi Shows

Productions

The Legend of La Befana, written by Emelise Aleandri, is a delightful musical and dramatic recreation, for children and adults alike, of the story of the good Italian Christmas Witch who visits children on the eve of the Epiphany and leaves presents for good children but coal, stones and ashes for naughty ones. La Befana narrates as other colorful characters from the legend come to life. The company sings Christmas songs in both English and Italian, and leads the children in singing and some dancing but adults are equally entertained and informed by the show.

Carnevale (which means "goodbye to meat") is the Italian Mardi Gras Festival (also known as Martedi Grasso) celebrated on "Fat Tuesday" the eve of Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of the penitential season of Lent. Thus Carnevale is a celebratory party where all goes crazy. Our Carnevale consists of a show by our company dressed in Commedia dell'arte masks and costumes, with musical entertainment including songs, comic monologues, dancing and audience participation. Audiences are encouraged to wear masks and costumes of they like; then the evening can include a costume competition with prizes for the winners.

Festa Primavera: A Night at Olde Turne Hall is a typical turn of the century evening of theatre, music and variety entertainments that actually took place at Turn Hall, the original name of the Manhattan Lyceum, now known as La
Mama ETC.Italian immigrant theatre flourished in the Hall on alternate evenings with the other ethnic groups. Festa Primavera recreates the story of the three Aprile sisters who come from Naples to perform in the vaudeville
arena. The show meanwhile conjures up, mostly in English but with also some Italian songs, the fascinating goingson from the period, both the entertainments onstage and the shenanigans backstage, all the while performing the original music of Italian-American composers and the unique comedic forms of the writers and actors.

The Cranky Baby (Il Bambino Bizzoso) by Gina Pagani, was originally a puppet show, now adapted for our Commedia dell'Arte actors, "I Vagabondi," performing in masks and costumes. A cranky baby refuses to stop crying in spite of the many comic efforts on the part of family, bizarre friends and neighbors to entertain and amuse the infant. Even an appearance by the friendly witch La Befana fails to stop the wailing. A surprising solution ends the play with audience participation.

The Caffe Concerto is a delightfully nostalgic musical theatre production exploring the charming musical and literary legacy of the early Italian-American immigrants.A turn-of-the-century Caffe Concerto was typically a spectacular Italian vaudeville show with music, songs, dance, comedy and specialty acts performed in nightclubs and little theatres in Little Italy. Our exciting Caffe Concerto faithfully recreates the historical genre in English and Italian with original songs, skits and macchiette (character sketches) written by Italian-American writers, poets and composers. The authentic music is a colorful mix of original compositions by Italian-American immigrants as well as traditional folk songs and dance from the Italian repertory.

L'Onore Perduto (Lost Honor), a social drama in four acts by Alessandro Sisca (alias Riccardo Cordiferro) is his most famous. Translated by Emelise Aleandri form the original 1901 script, the dramatic play depicts the
exploitation of Italian immigrants in Little Italy. The popular success of this play, together with his efforts as a journalist/activist, would make the name of Riccardo Cordiferro a household word among Italian-Americans not only in New York City, but on the neastern seaboard. Fortunately, because of its longevity and popularity, a script of this play has remained.

Carnevale at City Hall is a musical play production adapted from the History of My Life, the memoirs of Giacomo Casanova and the play in the Calabrese dialect, Carnevale Sindaco (Carnevale the Mayor) by Mario Gagliardi, as well as original material from the Italian-American theatre. Performed by "I Vagabondi," our Commedia dell'Arte players, Carnevale at City Hall follows the fortunes of the comic character Carnevale seeking election as Mayor. The production, in English and Italian, with Carnevaleand Commedia dell'Arte style costumes and masks, includes lively music, song and dance. Attendees are encouraged to wear masks and/or costumes if they wish and join our musical parade.