One morning there are no rolls and no fresh bread in the little village of
Fanghetto in great big Italy. There is a big sign on the entrance saying:
"Closed because of a broken heart!" What has happened? Perô
the baker is desperately unhappy. Because Columbina, who he loves, since they
have been at school together, to who he writes love letters at night when
the moon shines and which he never sends - his Columbina, the village washerwoman,
has eyes only for Palentino, merry wandering painter and goes off and away
with him.
Will Columbina find the way back to the quiet, pale and shy Perô? Or
did Palentino bewitch her forever with his dazzling colours? When autumn comes
the first storm takes one of Perô's unsent love letters right into Columbinas
hands. "Perô or the Secrets of the Night" is a musical play
about the magic of love, the depth of poesie and the symbols of seasons and
colours.
At the same time it is a continuation of the oldest motives of the Commedia
dell'arte, the play between Columbine, Pierrot and Harlequin.
With this production the Theater im Marienbad continues the successful cooperation
with the Dutch stage composer Guus Ponsioen. This time the elements of acting
and music are joined by puppet play for the first time.