The Love of 3 Oranges is a Commedia D'ell Arte scenario by Carlo Gozzi around 1761. The play was later adapted in 2002 by the brilliant composer Sergei Prokofiev as a full stage play. I had the privilege to watch it last Thursday.
The story is of Prince Tartaglia who has been cast a spell on by the evil Fata Morgana. Her black magic makes Tartaglia fall in love with and begin the search for three specific oranges. This leads them on an epic adventure helped on by the Good Magician Celio as they reach the Dark Castle. The idiot Truffaldino opens two oranges revealing 2 sisters but since they are not near water, they die. The third one is opened by Tartaglia and out pops a beautiful girl who Tartaglia falls in love with. But even after that, Fata Morgana does not end trying to derail their happiness but in the end, they live happily ever after!
I liked how they panicked and jumped around at many points in the play. Also, they ran out the doors and through it using the entire auditorium effectively. They tried to create a way to invite people in and the entire play was interactive I noticed how they were using gromalot at times to explain their frustration or anger. This was effective as it described alot more to the audience than dialogue would. I was entertained at most points but I got a bit bored especially when the characters would stop taking risks and drag their words and not have the enthusiasm Commedia characters should.
I didn't like how the stage was set out and how it had to be changed every scene especially since it was done so ineffeciently and took a long time. I liked the costumes as they were very 80s and were very eccentric and fun. The colors used in each characters clothing described what they were like as a person too. Also the props added to the storyline through wacky ways.
I liked the spooky scene the best. It was extremely well done using the background as green and the smoke machine to create a scary effect. Rudaina's costume looked very scary and the stage was set out in a way that everything was easily understood because everyone had specific places. It was well done.
"The play was later adapted in 2002 by the brilliant composer Sergei Prokofiev as a full stage play." I think you've got your wires a little crossed here. Sergei Prokofiev wrote an opera version of Three Oranges in 1921. Hillary DePiano wrote a stage play version of Three Oranges in 2002. Prokofiev was most definitely dead by 2002.
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