Play Script
The Green Bird
by Hillary DePiano
adapted from the commedia dell’arte play by Carlo Gozzi
A standalone sequel to Hillary DePiano’s The Love of Three Oranges!
Features
- Flexible staging
- Large cast with multiple strong female roles and an ensemble that can increase or decrease based on your casting needs.
- Opportunities for stage combat, sword-fighting, physical comedy, dance, music, puppets, and juggling.
- Includes improvisational bits in the spirit of traditional commedia.
- Educational benefits and relevance: History of Italian Theatre, Commedia Dell’arte, Carlo Gozzi and Carlo Goldoni, Improvisation, Stage Combat, Physical Comedy (Pratfalls, slapstick, etc), Masks, History of Comedy, Commedia Today
Full Length
It’s been years since King Tartaglia went on a quest for three magical oranges and found his Queen Ninetta. But when war breaks out with a neighboring kingdom, enemies from the past seize the throne and execute a cruel revenge on the lovers. With the King lost on the battlefield, the Queen buried alive, the royal heirs presumed dead and the kingdom itself in ruins, it all looks pretty darn bleak for a comedy. Luckily, there’s magic and mayhem aplenty in this wild fairy tale to guide everyone on the chaotic path back to happily ever after. With curses, clowns, demons, a talking statue that’s rapidly losing control of the story he’s narrating and yet another quest for a bit of enchanted fruit, this ain’t your grandma’s commedia dell’arte. When no one’s worthy of the title of hero, it’s up to twins Renzo and Barbarina to unravel the mystery of The Green Bird in time to save everyone from themselves. A standalone sequel to The Love of Three Oranges! (A one-act version of this play is also available.)
- Comedy / Fantasy
- Full Length in Two Acts
- 90-120 minutes
- 4Â M 6 F 3 E
- Cast size: 13-unlimited (ensemble of servants, guards, demons and dancers can be as large or small as needed)
Acting editions, director’s binder books and performance rights and permissions for this show are all available exclusively through Playscripts, Inc.
One Act
When war breaks out with a neighboring kingdom and an imposter seizes the throne, the Kingdom’s heart breaks. With King Tartaglia lost on the battlefield, Queen Ninetta buried alive, the royal heirs presumed dead and the kingdom itself in ruins, it all looks pretty darn bleak for a comedy. Luckily, there’s magic and mayhem aplenty in this wild fairy tale to guide everyone on the chaotic path back to happily ever after. With curses, clowns, demons, and a talking statue that’s rapidly losing control of the story he’s narrating, this ain’t your grandma’s commedia dell’arte. When no one’s worthy of the title of hero, it’s up to twins Renzo and Barbarina to unravel the mystery of The Green Bird in time to save everyone from themselves. All the fun and family dysfunction of the full length is distilled down into this fast paced one-act! (A full length version of this play is also available.)
- Comedy / Fantasy
- One Acts Version
- 35-45 minutes
- 4 M 6 FÂ 3 E
- Cast size: 12-unlimited (ensemble of servants, guards, demons and dancers can be as large or small as needed)
Acting editions, director’s binder books and performance rights and permissions for this show are all available exclusively through Playscripts, Inc. Â
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