
The Cinderella
Grilli Puppet Company (Piedmont)
Reduction of Gioacchino Rossini's opera in one act
adapted and directed by Augusto Grilli
with Massimo Gambarutti and Augusto Grilli
In the house of Don Magnifico, Cinderella's stepfather and father of Thisbe and Clorinda, the three girls are each engaged in a different job while a mysterious character, Alidoro, arrives, begging for charity and is chased away by the two stepsisters. Only Cinderella offers him some breakfast. The quarrel is interrupted by the announcement of a grand ball at the castle. Meanwhile, the prince, Don Ramiro, having exchanged clothes with his squire Dandini, shows up at Don Magnifico's house to observe the behavior of the three girls. He runs into Cinderella, being struck by her simple beauty. Don Magnifico states that he has only two daughters, and therefore only these will be able to go to the ball, but thanks to a magic worked by Alidoro, Cinderella will also be able to attend. The two stepsisters compete to ingratiate themselves with the prince who, however, is the squire in disguise. A mysterious lady with a veiled face arrives at the ball; everyone demands that she unveil herself and is amazed by such beauty. In the garden the mysterious lady (Cinderella) gives the prince (the real one) one of her bracelets (she has one just like it) and then goes home. The prince, despairing over the loss of this girl orders a search for her everywhere. He himself will find her with the help of the bracelet, marry her, and they will all live happily ever after.