Happy Beggars

A fantasy based on the play by C. Gozzi, the action of which takes place in Samarkand, where the traditional characters of Italian "commedia dell'arte" acquired real characters, a real history, nationality, and a diversity of languages. Samarkand, in C. Gozzi's play and M. Weil's production, is a Babylon where Asian and European cultures mix, along with differing views on life, society, and human values. The characters of the production make friends, fall in love, sometimes quarrel and even fight, but they cannot live without one another. The production, as befits "commedia dell'arte" — the art of improvisation — reflects Ilkhom's attitude toward our life and the events of our recent history. But this is not merely allusions to the realities that surround us. It is, above all, a vivid spectacle performed by actors, most of whom are barely in their twenties. And perhaps that is why their final address to the audience sounds so bright and sorrowful at once: "Unhappy, hungry ones. For you, bread has today turned into spectacle. For this, I ask one thing of you. Send up your prayers to heaven with fervor. Pray to the gods for us and for yourselves. That they may grant wisdom and skill to lift the veils from truth. To return justice and peace to this unhappy land, and to grant happiness to all its subjects, whom we love as our own children." The production features music by Verdi, Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky, N. Rota, and Massey, the Neapolitan song "O sole mio" by Di Capua–Russo, and the voices of Maria Callas and Luciano Pavarotti. Verses set to the melody of the song "Seven Forty" ("Sem Sorok").

The Ilkhom Theatre thanks: Tulkin Isakov for his assistance in recording the soundtrack, Habibulla Umarov for his consultation on playing the dutar and doira, and Alisher Irgashev, Nigina Yuldasheva, Lola Saifi, Elena Nurmukhamedova, and Zhanna Lavrova for their participation in designing and making the costumes.

Running time: 3 hours (with intermission) 

Latecomers will not be admitted to the auditorium — please arrive in advance.

Carlo Gozzi 

Production: Mark Weil