Beach Party Ci Nd Erella Study Guide
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BEACH PARTY CI ND ERELLA STUDY GUIDE NASHVILLE OPERA CINDERELLA by Gioachino Rossini JUNE 12, 2021 The Ann & Frank Bumstead Production Special 90-minute Adaptation Ascend Amphitheater Directed by John Hoomes Conducted by Dean Williamson Featuring the Nashville Opera Orchestra CAST & CHARACTERS Cinderella (Angelina) Emily Fons* The Prince Matthew Grills* Dandini Jonathan Beyer* Don Magnifico Stefano de Peppo* Alidoro Christopher Curcuruto*† Tisbe Emilyl Cottam*† Clorinda Bryn Holdsworth* Brian Russell Jonas Grumby * Nashville Opera debut † 2021 Mary Ragland Emerging Artist TICKETS & INFORMATION Contact Nashville Opera at 615.832.5242 or visit nashvilleopera.org/cinderella SPONSORED BY ANN MARIE AND MARTIN M cNAMARA III NASHVILLE WITH SUPPORT FROM THE JUDY & NOAH SUE & EARL OPERA LIFF FOUNDATION SWENSSON THE STORY Rossini composed his version of the CINDERELLA folk tale in a staggering three weeks during 1817. He was only twenty-four years old at the time. Based on Charles Perrault’s CENDRILLON of 1697, La Cenerentola follows a common girl who dreams of a happier life and a prince who seeks to marry the most beautiful girl he can find. Rossini’s plot diverges from the fairy-tale tradition and takes a more realistic approach, with an endearing and sensible central character. Director John Hoomes brings some of the magic spirit back by setting the farcical tale by the sea in his BEACH BLANKET BINGO -inspired staging. THIS SYNOPSIS HAS BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT JOHN HOOMES’S BEACH-PARTY STAGING It’s morning in the broken-down surf shop owned by Don and tells him to search for the young woman wearing the Magnifico. Cinderella, known as Angelina, is doing the bracelet’s companion. She tells him that if he can find out household chores, as her vain stepsisters Clorinda and Tisbe who she really is, and still wants to her, she will gladly marry dance and primp. A knock at the door introduces Alidoro, him then. Cinderella leaves. Ramiro demotes Dandini and advisor of Prince Ramiro, disguise as a poor beach bum. Cin - assumes his rightful role as prince. He vows to find his un - derella’s stepsisters try to throw him out, but Cinderella known love. sneaks Alidoro some food. Word arrives that on this very Dandini tells Don Magnifico that a choice has been made re - evening the prince is holding a fantastic beach party at his ex - garding a bride and then confesses that he is only the prince’s clusive yacht club And at this beach party, the prince will boat mechanic. Don Magnifico storms off in a rage. choose his bride. Don Magnifico, Clorinda, and Tisbe return home and take The ensuing commotion awakens the girl’s father, Don Mag - their anger out on Cinderella. A huge storm blows through, nifico. He is angry from being pulled from a splendid dream and after it passes, Dandini appears with news that the about a donkey. Clorinda and Tisbe relate the news of the Prince’s sports car has broken down outside the surf shop. beach party to their father. Prince Ramiro enters. Cinderella suddenly realizes that he is Soon thereafter, the prince enters in disguise as his own boat actually the prince! And the prince recognizes her! The two mechanic, Dandini. When the prince and Cinderella see each go off together, leaving everyone else attempting to make other, it’s love at first sight. But when her father bellows, Cin - sense of what has just happened. derella rushes out to attend to his needs. In the joyous final scene at the prince’s yacht club, Cinderella The boat mechanic Dandini arrives (disguised as Prince proclaims her happiness. She pardons her stepfather and Ramiro). He is there to escort Don Magnifico’s daughters to stepsisters for their treatment of her. Everyone hails Cin - the beach party. Cinderella asks permission to attend the derella’s beauty and wisdom as goodness is triumphant. party too, but Don Magnifico tells her no. Everyone heads to the beach resort, leaving Cinderella behind. Alidoro re - turns and tells Cinderella that he will help her get to the beach party, but she must go in disguise. On the private beach of the yacht club, Dandini, continuing his masquerade as the prince, tells Clorinda and Tisbe that he can marry only one young woman, but the other can marry his boat mechanic. The sisters angrily reject this idea. Mezzo-soprano Emily Fons Alidoro suddenly announces the arrival of a mystery lady to heads the cast the beach party. Cinderella enters in disguise. When she re - of Nashville Opera’s veals herself, the sisters feel that this new girl looks too much CINDERELLA. like their stepsister to be considered any serious competition. Everyone jumps into the surf to swim and frolic. Near the end of the party, the prince hides when Cinderella hurries in with Dandini behind her (still posing as the prince). Dandini professes his love for Cinderella, but she confesses to only loving his mechanic (really Prince Ramiro in disguise!). Ramiro (still in disguise) steps forward and asks Cinderella to marry him. Cinderella gives him a bracelet from her wrist Need a Beach Party br ush-up ? In 1963, American International Pictures released Beach Party starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, and with it a genre was born. Seven more Beach Party movies followed from the studio, as it quickly became o ne of the most successful cinematic trends of all time. Low-budget and easily produced, beach-party films were profitable and developed their own cult fandom. Their appeal lay in their fantastic escapism, simple themes, and the idea of good clean fun. Dancing, surfing, teen rebellion, motorcycles, and summer love were de rigueur in movies like Beach Party , B each Blanket Bingo (1965), Where the Boys Are (1960), and Bikini Beach (1964). Music was another key element, and beach-party films featured major artists such as Stevie Wonder, the Animals, the Beach Boys, Little Richard, and the Supremes. During the 60s, beach-party films fueled the popularity of surfing and exploded U.S. bikini sales by 3000%. (Ironically many were filmed during the winter with actors in full body makeup!) One of the genre’s most beloved stars was Annette Funicello, who appeared in at least five Beach Party films. Her show-business career began as a Mouseketeer on The Mickey Mouse Club and grew immensely throughout the 1950s and 60s. Annette’s mentor, Walt Disney, in - sisted she wear a one-piece bathing suit in Beach Party films in order to maintain a modest public image. (No bikinis?!) Other actors known for their roles in Beach Party films included Linda Evans, Don Rickles, and Elizabeth Montgomery. Years later, audiences would demand a more realistic portrayal of the young-adult experi - ence. In 1987, genre royalty Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello were featured in Back to the Beach which parodied their previous wholesome films. MOMENTS TO LISTEN FOR “Una volta c’era un re” “Signor, una parola” (Sir, a word) fused when Alidoro seems to think that (Once upon a time, there was a king) one his daughters is agreeable. In this quintet, Ramiro and Dandini no - Cinderella (Angelina) sings her favorite tice Angelina’s plea to also attend the song, telling the story of a king who ball as her sisters leave. Magnifico re - “Si ritrovarla io giuro” chooses a bride for her good heart as fuses her request and insults her, while (Yes, I swear I will find her again) opposed to her wealth. trying to come across as pleasing to The prince resolves to find the girl who Ramiro and Dandini. captured his heart at the beach party. “Miei rampolli femminini” (My feminine beauties) “La del ciel” “Un segreto d’importanza” High above (A secret of importance) Don Magnifico relays a story from one of his bizarre dreams—this one fore - After her family leaves the room, An - In this comic duet, Dandini reveals to shadowing Clorinda, Tisbe, and gelina is left with Alidoro who is still in Magnifico that he is a servant, not the himself elevating their current status by disguise as a lowly beach bum. Alidoro prince. The news sends Magnifico into associating themselves with royalty. sees the pure heartedness of Angelina a rageful fit. The opening theme is re - and explains that he will take her to the stated here but in a rapid 6/8 meter. Beach Ball, while she believes he is “Un soave non so che” mocking her. To prove his sincerity, (A sweet something) “Ah, signor, s’è ver che in petto” Alidoro sings to her that God has (Ah, sir, is it true) In this duet, Cinderella (Angelina) con - looked down on her to reward her verses with a stranger—Ramiro dis - goodness. She deserves to go to the In this trio, Angelina pleads for recon - guised as a servant. They both show Beach Ball. He also predicts that An - ciliation between herself, Ramiro, Mag - warm but shy affections for each other. gelina will soon experience happier nifico, Clorinda, and Tisbe. Ramiro begins the duet by confessing times. that there’s a sweet feeling in his heart “Nacqui all’affanno… that he’s never felt before. Cinderella “Zitto, zitto, piano, piano” Non più mesta” answers by confessing that her heart is (Quickly, quickly, quietly, quietly) (I was born into sorrow and tears… beating so fast and she doesn’t know No more sorrow) why. In the second half of the duet, This duet begins in whispers as Prince Angelina tries to explain her compli - Ramiro quizzes Dandini about the sis - In the closing aria, Angelina revels in cated family history but gets deeply ters.