Tavelo the Traveller or Arlecchino’s Identity Crisis
By, John Brandt

Dramatis Personae:
Capitano da Spavento (hired mercenary)
Arlecchnio (servant to Capitano)
Brighella/Tavelo (local bartender)
Columbina (servant to house Bisognosi)
Franceschina (serving wench in Brighella’s tavern)
Il Dottore Asiano (local doctor)
Pantalone dei Bisognosi (local merchant king)
Isabella Asiano (eldest child of Pantalone)
Lelio Asiano (youngest child of Pantalone)
Leandro dei Bisognosi (eldest child of Dottore)
Angelina dei Bisognosi (youngest child of Dottore)

ACT ONE:
Arlecchino and Capitano enter town. Capitano explaining that he has been hired by Pantalone for an, as yet, unknown task. Orders Arlecchino to stay put. Capitano leaves.

Arlecchino investigates local tavern. Encounters and is promptly smitten by Franceschina. Arranges to meet Franceschina for romantic encounter, promptly found by Columbina, who, identifying Arlecchino as “Tavelo” attacks him for “returning to town”. Arlecchino flees.

Arlecchino, confused but undeterred, resumes looking for Franceschina. Encounters Isabella, who, identifying Arlecchino as “Tavelo” berates him for the agony and confusion which he has brought to her life. Arlecchino, though he known not what for. Isabella leaves to tell her father Tavelo is back. Arlecchino expresses confusion, then resumes hunt for Franceschina.

Leandro and Lelio find “Tavelo” and assault him for destroying their lives. Leandro for getting in the way of his love for Isabella, Lelio for the same…for he can not marry Angelina until her older brother is wed, and he refuses to wed other than Isabella. “Tavelo” argues his identity. Leandro and Lelio list identifying marks of Tavelo, all of which Arlecchino possesses. They leave to tell Pantalone that he has returned. Arlecchino is confused by his own identity.

Arlecchino returns to the tavern to drink away his problems. Encounters Franceschina, who is upset that he did not meet her as planned. Arlecchino pleads a second chance and explains the previous encounters. Brighella, overhearing, explains the history of Tavelo and his involvement with the two families. He offers Arlecchino advice to leave town. Arlecchino can not as he is bound to Capitano by a debt that he can not fulfill until he finds his lost brother.

Arlecchino, downtrodden, leaves the tavern to seek Capitano. Capitano, traveling with Pantalone, finds Arlecchino. Pantalone identifies Arlecchino as “Tavelo”. Arlecchino protests. Isabella, Leandro and Columbina enter, confirming him as “Tavelo”. Arlecchino admits that he is awfully confused, and may, in fact, be “Tavelo”. Capitano announces this is convenient as Pantalone has contracted to hill “Tavelo”, but admits confusion about how Arlecchino hid his identity so well for the years they have traveled together. Arlecchino concocts a story that would explain how it were possible. Capitano, convinced of his guilt, attempts to kill him. “Tavelo”, who is said to be a fierce warrior, defends himself and escapes temporarily, with helpful distractions from Franceschina and Brighella.

END ACT ONE

Isabella and Leandro enter tavern and lament their plight. Brighella and Franceschina eavesdrop. Leandro vows to assist Capitano in finding “Tavelo”, because Pantalone has said that “when Tavelo is no more, we are free to marry.” Leandro and Isabella exit. Lelio and Angelina enter and lament their plight. Brighella and Franceschina eavesdrop. Lelio vows to assist Capitano in finding “Tavelo”, because Pantalone has said that “when Tavelo is no more, Leandro and Isabella are free to marry, and once Angelina’s older brother has wed, she will be allowed to wed as well.” Lelio and Angelina exit.

Arlecchino reveals himself as hiding inside the tavern, having removed the identifying item, no one recognizes him as “Tavelo”. Arlecchino, Brighella and Franceschina discuss the situation. Brighella proclaims that “Tavelo” is so hated in the town that to stay under the shadow of that name is suicide. He advises Arlecchino again to leave. Franceschina argues that he can not dessert her love, and that they must clear this confusion so they can be together (mockery of innamorati moments). Arlecchino leaves to hunt for his long lost brother, who Capitano said must be in this town, and Arlecchino is convinced he will be able to help him.

Columbina enters, looking for “Tavelo”. Brighella plays dumb. Franceschina challenges Columbina’s claim of love for “Tavelo”, “how could such love turn to anger”. Columbina provides examples of classic lovers spurned and their just retribution. Franceschina offers to provide some “just retribution” of her own. Franceschina and Columbina fight. Brighella breaks up the fight. Columbina exits. Franceschina leaves to warn Arlecchino.

Brighella reveals, via monologue, that he is in fact Tavelo, dons the identifying item and muses how much is at risk in helping his younger brother, Arlecchino. He removes the item as Dottore, Leandro and Angelina enter. Leandro announces to Brighella that they are searching for “Tavelo”. Brighella asks them for patience, as Arlecchino clearly has no recollection of being “Tavelo”, perhaps he has amnesia. Dottore explains that whether he remembers it or not, if the people of the town can recognize him as “Tavelo”, then he is the same.

Pantalone, Isabella, Angelina and Columbina enter, also searching for “Tavelo”. Pantalone rants about the evils of being deceived and how he is so intelligent that no one would be able to mask their identity from him for long. Brighella asks under what conditions Pantalone would admit to being out-witted. Pantalone and Brighella agree that if “Tavelo” were able to shake Pantalone’s hand without Pantalone’s awareness, that it would be an impressive feat. They shake on the agreement.

Arlecchino and Franceschina enter. Franceschina offers to slay every one of the people in the room in order to protect her new love. Capitano enters and takes her up on the offer. They draw swords. Arlecchino, suddenly declaring himself as “Tavelo, the mighty and fierce warrior, feared by all men and loved by all women of taste,” defends his proclaimed love by taking her sword and dueling the Capitano. The battle ends as Columbina trips up Arlecchino and he is disarmed.

As Capitano moves to dispatch “Tavelo”, Brighella comes forward and proclaims that he will not allow any harm to come to his younger brother. All are shocked, most of all Arlecchino. Brighella and Capitano duel. Arlecchino fights Lelio and Leandro, who vow to finish “Tavelo” once and for all. The brothers prevail and Brighella proclaims that “Tavelo” is dead. All are confused again.

Brighella explains that he, in fact, was “Tavelo”. He had made up the name in order to start a new life after escaping a life as a servant to a mining company. However, as Pantalone attempted to force him into a marriage that he didn’t want, and the loss of his love Columbina, Brighella retook his birth-given name and hid in plain sight so that he could watch over his beloved Columbina without further complicating her life. Brighella then dons “Tavelo’s” marking.

Pantalone announces that he must die. Brighella, however, calls on Pantalone’s agreement regarding the handshake. Pantalone is forced to admit that Tavelo out-witted him. Brighella offers him a way to retain his honor. “Allow us all to agree that Tavelo does not exist. That way there is no one more clever than you.” Pantalone agrees. Dottore points out that Tavelo’s ceasing to exist frees Isabella from the marriage agreement. Pantalone agrees. Leandro promptly proposes to Isabella, she accepts. Lelio then proposes to Angelina, who accepts. Brighella apologizes to Columbina, who forgives him. Franceschina then drags Arlecchino away for their rendezvous. Capitano takes his leave after announcing that he has clearly solved all of the towns problems and that Pantalone and Dottore owe him a big celebration. The vecchi leave. All other rejoice.

END