Li Pittori Ladri

Dramatis Personae	Properties
Pantalone, father of	Canvas portrait of a man making a face, painting supplies
Isabella	large cauldron, some sticks, a carpet, a primed canvas
Brighella, their servant	Several beards, a dagger, a large knife, a moneybag
Lunetta, their maidservant	A spit, a metal rod, four chairs, a cane [sawn off]
Dottore, father of	A sword, some crockery
Flaminia and	a musician’s outfit and instrument for Flavio
Orazio, his children	A painters costume for Orazio
Arlecchino, their servant	Painters costumes and supplies for Brighella and Arlecchino
Ricciolina, their maidservant
Flavio, no relation

	Act I	A Street in Naples
1	Orazio Brighella	Orazio begs Brighella to intercede with his mistress Isabella, whom he loves. Brighella speaks of the enmity between Pantalone [his master] and Dottore [Orazio’s father]. Finally, they agree and do the lazzo of the secret signal, and how to keep lookout. They call Lunetta
2	Lunetta	She reminds them of the enmity between the families, and then she goes in to call her mistress.
3	Isabella	Isabella does a love scene with Orazio, and then she goes inside fearful. Orazio and Brighella feel content about their plan.
4	Pantalone	Pantalone is heard speaking on his way out, and Brighella sends Orazio away. Pantalone comes out with a moneybag hanging from his belt. Brighella tells him that such a visible bag will be stolen right away. Pantalone says it won’t and they lay a bet on that. Pantalone reveals that he is in love with Flaminia, Dottore’s daughter. Brighella reminds him of the enmity between the families, and advises him to have his portrait made to give to Flaminia. Pantalone welcomes the advice, and tells Brighella to go find a painter. Pantalone goes inside. Brighella exits.
5	Flavio	He speaks of his love for Flaminia, and knocks at Dottore’s door.
6	Flaminia	They do a love scene, then she goes inside and he exits.
7	Dottore Arlecchino	Dottore tells him that he has promised Flaminia to a foreign merchant. Then he speaks of his love for Isabella. Finally he orders Arlecchino regarding [Flaminia’s] wedding banquet, and Dottore leaves to invite his kinsmen. Arlecchino speaks of his love for Lunetta, and fearfully knocks at Pantalone’s door.
8	Lunetta	They do a love seen with caution about being seen [given the relations between the Vecchi]. Lunetta goes inside. Arlecchino exits to plan the wedding banquet.
9	Orazio Flavio	Separately, they speak of their love interests, and indicate that their love is reciprocated. They see each other and do a scene of friendship, and embrace.
10	Isabella Flaminia	The women from their windows see their lovers embracing. Each man, seeing his ladylove, speaks lovingly about their friendship to the women, who make gestures to their respective lovers.
11	Pantalone	From inside Pantalone calls Isabella. The men exit, and the women withdraw, each with loving bidding adieu [note this must be played so that none of the four are aware of the other couple’s love]. Pantalone comes out and sees Flaminia bidding farewell to Flavio, but not seeing Flavio, he interprets her gestures as directed at him. He feels happy, and he exits to find Brighella.
12	Arlecchino	He is weeping because he ate all the food intended for the banquet, and has received a beating from his master.
13	Brighella	Arlecchino acts friendly towards Brighella. He says if they were friends that he would tell him that his master is in love with Isabella. Playing along, Brighella says that if they were friends, he would tell him that Dottore should learn to play an instrument to serenade her Isabella, so she would fall in love with him. Arlecchino says he will tell his master that. Brighella says he will find a music teacher. Arlecchino exits.
14	Flavio	Flavio tells of his love for Flaminia to Brighella. Brighella suggests that he dress as a music teacher so that on pretext of teaching Dottore, he can get into the house and take his pleasure with Flaminia. Happy, Flavio exits.
15	Orazio	Brighella tells him to dress up as a painter on the pretext of painting Pantalone’s portrait. On this pretext he can get into the house and have his pleasure with Isabella. Happy, Orazio exits. Brighella speaks of his love for Ricciolina, and knocks at Dottore’s door.
16	Ricciolina	They do a love scene.
17	Dottore	Seeing them flirting, Dottore starts shouting about his enemy’s servant having an affair with someone in his house. They start quarrelling and get into a fight. Both men call for help from inside their houses. The men go into the houses to arm themselves. Ricciolina stays behind worrying.
18	Arlecchino Brighella Lunetta Ricciolina Dottore Pantalone	They four servants come out carrying knives, pipes, and crowbars. The old men then come out carrying small swords. A general brawl begins with each defending his own house. Eventually, Arlecchino starts throwing crockery, and the act ends with everyone chasing each other off stage.

	Act II	A Street in Naples
1	Ricciolina Lunetta	Appearing at their windows, they begin heaping insults on each other for what happened. The quarrel escalates.
2	Arlecchino Brighella	Love scenes result in the women making peace and the women go inside. The men conspire to rob Pantalone of his moneybag by pretending to be painters. Brighella sends Arlecchino to get painting supplies, beards, and clothes. Arlecchino exits.
3	Pantalone	Pantalone, from the window, reminds Brighella of his promise to intercede with Flaminia. Brighella says the painters are arriving shortly. Pantalone withdraws.
4	Arlecchino	He has the supplies. They dress up as painters, review the plan, and knock at the door.
5	Pantalone	The servants do the lazzo of Titian and Apelles, and then pose Pantalone for his portrait. Arlecchino does his lazzi of painting him, while Brighella steals his moneybag. Brighella exits, after signaling he is done. Arlecchino hands the portrait to Pantalone and Arlecchino exits. Pantalone laughs at the absurd painter, and goes inside.
6	Flavio	Dressed as a musician, knocks at Dottore’s door.
7	Ricciolina	She hears he is a musician and calls Dottore.
8	Dottore	He is happy the musician has arrived and will take lessons from him. He calls Flaminia.
9	Flaminia	Flaminia is happy at seeing [the musician], and they have some chairs brought in. They take a seat, and Flavio begins to play.
10	Arlecchino	Hearing someone playing, Arlecchino comes out dancing, and doing his lazzi. Then Dottore has his lesson doing his lazzi. Meanwhile Flavio secretly flirts with Flaminia. Only Arlecchino notices this, and mocks his master. Finally, Flavio says it would be better to do the lesson indoors, and all enter the house.
11	Pantalone Lunetta	Pantalone is in despair, because the painters have stolen his moneybag. He begs Lunetta not to say anything to Brighella, so he won’t have to pay the bet.
12	Orazio	Dressed as a painter, Orazio asks about the Doge. After lazzi, Pantalone asks him to paint his portrait. Orazio agrees, and aside, tells Lunetta to tell Isabella that this is a trick of his. Lunetta goes inside to tell her mistress. Orazio pulls out a canvas, poses Pantalone and begins painting.
13	Isabella	Isabella appears at the window. As he paints Pantalone, he flirts with Isabella, while pretending to talk about the portrait. Eventually Pantalone realizes what is going on and scolds the painter. Orazio leaves. He rebukes his daughter, Isabella withdraws. Pantalone and Lunetta go inside.
14	Flaminia Flavio	They come out of their houses and show affection. Their prank was a success, and they have had their pleasure with each other. They embrace
15	Arlecchino	He sees them embracing, and recognizes Flavio. He cries out, and calls his master. Orazio runs away. Arlecchino scolds Flaminia.
16	Dottore	Dottore runs out at the cries, and accuses Flaminia. Angry, he rebukes her and sends her into the house. Indignant, Dottore exits uttering threats.
17	Brighella	Brighella has the moneybag. Arlecchino says he wants his share. Brighella says they will divide the loot another time. A quarrel develops. They fight over the moneybag and the second act ends.

	Act III	A Street in Naples, daytime
1	Orazio Flavio	Enter from opposite sides, each is desperate at having been found out. They meet and do a scene about the situation.
2	Brighella	Hearing their laments, Brighella comforts them, saying he will see that each gets his beloved. The lovers leave relying on Brighella.
3	Pantalone	Pantalone, not knowing if Brighella knows about the moneybag, speaks ambiguously. Then he says he doesn’t care if he loses the moneybag, provided he gets Flaminia. Brighella sees through him, and advises him to sweet-talk Dottore. He is to say that he wants to make peace, by marrying Flaminia, and giving Isabella to Dottore in marriage. Pantalone exits, agreeing to the plan.
4	Arlecchino	Arlecchino begs Brighella to make peace with him. They do. Brighella tells him that with their pranks, they can get more money, and help the lovers. Arlecchino agrees.
5	Flavio	After a scene, Brighella lets Flavio into Flaminia’s house. Flavio goes in. and Brighella calls Ricciolina.
6	Ricciolina	Brighella whispers in her ear and sends her inside.
7	Orazio	After a scene, Brighella lets Orazio into Isabella’s house. Orazio goes in, and Brighella calls Lunetta.
8	Lunetta	Brighella whispers in Lunetta’s ear, and Brighella exits. Arlecchino tells her that he wants to marry her, and that he’s made peace with Brighella. She goes inside agreeing.
9	Dottore	Dottore comes to his own door, and knocks to be let in.
10	Ricciolina	Ricciolina is flustered and tells her master that the cauldron is cracked. She goes in to get it, and comes out, putting it over Dottore’s head. She signals Flavio to come out.
11	Flavio Lunetta	Flavio comes out and exits. Lunetta watches from the window. Arlecchino is amused. Ricciolina and Dottore go into the house. Lunetta withdraws from the window.
12	Pantalone	He says he could not find Dottore, and knocks to enter his own house.
13	Lunetta	Lunetta is flustered and tells her master that the carpet has been stained with oil. On the pretext of showing him the stain, she puts it over his face, and signals Orazio to come out.
14	Orazio Ricciolina	Orazio runs out of the house and exits. Ricciolina has seen all, and withdraws. Lunetta goes inside.
15	Ricciolina	Ricciolina tells Pantalone how Orazio got out of the house with the carpet as cover. She goes inside. Pantalone is angry, and knocks at this door again.
16	Lunetta	Pantalone scolds Lunetta for the trick with the carpet, saying Ricciolina told him. Furious, Lunetta knocks at Dottore’s door.
17	Dottore	Lunetta tells him how Flavio got out of the house with the trick of the cauldron. Arlecchino comes forward laughing, and says that those were all Brighella’s pranks.
18	Brighella	The old men grab Brighella, who asks forgiveness, revealing all the pranks he has played.
19	Orazio Flavio Flaminia Isabella	Each young man asks forgiveness of the father of his beloved, saying he has taken his pleasure with her. After lazzi, they all make peace and the marriages are celebrated between Orazio and Isabella, Flavio and Flaminia, Brighella and Ricciolina, and Arlecchino and Lunetta. And so ends the comedy.