"BOCCACIO."

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIII, Issue 14353, 19 November 1910, Page 3

"BOCCACIO."

The plot of "Boccaccio" is simply a ■well-told tale of romance and iun, teeming with, love-making, liumouy, and comical situations. Briefly, it is as follows: — Boccaccio, a student at the University of Florence, in the seventeenth century (even then famous as one of the best universities ir; Europe), is the chosen leader of a banc) of rpllicking, dare-devil students, and With his particular chums Lpoiiettq Marcp, and Lqrenzo, makes things exceedingly lively for the good citizens and citizenesses of Fiorenc'p (especially for the i&ttef). Also goccapcio, wlip hag a penchano for writ.ng pamphlets of a decidedly amusing, satirical and scandalous na'tjirg, has iiK-urrec] thp ivrat]}'of sonie of the aforesaid good citizens, wlip naturally object' to I,'eld 'up it)' rdicule,' and' their i::tie weaknesses, (both jjmprons and bify'iilpps) bxp<|stiil j io an admiriue and gossip iovinjc u-oin-!

munitv as wore tlu- Florentines i»i' flu«fc Boccaccio. whilst mi advfetiuiro* (amorous of course) falls in love with Fiametta, "who for Slate rc-asons is living in a citizen's family (Lambertuccio. the olive grower's)—hut is ronjlv the uieof> of the Grand Duke of Florence. Tlu-- Princess Fiatnc'ta \hv betrothed ( a Sia betrothal) to Pieiro.. Prince of Palniero, Xlus Prince of Pa)more 13 a % gny vyiing spark,' ana fa&cinaterl "by Boconecio and his fellow students' romantic adventures. jojns tliem in Florence, incognito. hiding his rank, and becoming a member of their fraternity as an ordinary student- under the name of Poter. Peter is introduced to the. fascinating Isabella, the wife of a bibulous cooper, Lotieringhi, and straightways falls m love. Leonetto, the falth--1 , and obedient chum of Boccaccio, much against his will has to make protestation of affection, to the -old enough to know batter'' Peronella, a lady of mature but dazzling charms v,-ho tliougj W ife to Lambutuccio (the olive grower .and a consistent sampler of the Italian vintages) is not averse to a lit.le amorous flirtation with a rollicking student. Fiametta beimr the Ppt*f r 11 j of Lnnibortuccio and J- eionelia, and under the stnVc- .. ipei vision ot the latter, Leonettio's oblong love-making gets the dragon ie."mella saiely away, and Boccaccio enabled to successfully make his declaration of affection to Kiametta Love IS now the order of the dav! In t.ie second act Lambertuecio who has had a •'social evening" the previous night with Lottermghi. is persuaded t-j climb a- tree which Boccaccio avers is "minted—the effect to the spectator gazing from Lis hauuted tree hew an illusion that all couples Within Jrditare •■billing and cooing. This iucenlous device enables the love-makiii" - conspirators, Boccaccio and his chums to considerably enjoy themselves—moreover, Lottsringhi. the bibulous cooper is skdfully coaxed into the birr cask of the cooperage, where he lies conveniently perdu during this scene. Or course, as is only right all ends happily. After Fiametta's rank has been proclaimed and her weddiii" with the Prince of Palermo to take place, Boccaccio and his students arrive at the palace and Isabella, detains the prince (who as Peter has sworn such eternal devotion to h-er) iust long enough to make him late for the riage ceremony. The Grand Duke, who has lost patience with the Prince of Palermo, is told the story of Fiametta's love l'ur Boccaccio, and the curtain falls on happiness lor the Princess —she marries, l:y tlie Grand Duke's consent "the man of her cholir." who is Boccaccio. Xh;s is but a brief outline of the plot. Space prevents due justice being given to so elaborate a romance. liiauca, an olive gatherer with a lovely voice, Scalza, the timorous barber, Beatrice, bis fascinating daughter, Fiesco, the much ill-treated book hawker, the gallant curtain Lingi, the imperturbable Major Domo, Marco, the gay serenader. Philipa, the cheeky, the charming dancing and flower girls, the dainty pages, lovely peasants, cit>.eneses, courtiers, etc.. make up ;i glorious story of romance, love, and innocent fuu.