Comedy in two parts by Eduardo de Filippo
Translation: Anatol Ursu

Artistic direction, scenography and musical illustration: Ion Ciubotariu
Premiere date: September 18, 1997

Rita and Rodolfo, husband and wife, live in Naples, in the house of Maestro Agostino (a former theater guard) and Mrs. Bettina. The four of them have debts of 300,000 lire and they imagine a stratagem to get out of this situation.

Rita pretends to be a prostitute and attracts potential clients by bathing in her underwear near the window overlooking the alley. Once the amount is agreed (10,000 lire), the clients enter the house, but discover Rodolfo lying in bed and pretending to be dead. Rita's hysterical scenes when she explains the situation and especially the presence of the corpse only succeed in sending the unfortunates running. Each such encounter culminates in the appearance of Maestro Agostino who, wearing a top hat, declaims a delirium of incoherent phrases.

When they have collected about 80,000 lire, a new client appears: Mr. Attilio Samueli. At first, he is terrified by the presence of the corpse, but eventually discovers the scam. Then Rita, Rodolfo, and Maestro Agostino try to justify their ploy, talking about their personal misfortunes, about the unemployment and misery of which they are victims, about the brutalization that can occur when society closes every door in your face. Mr. Attilio understands, but by explaining his personal situation, he reverses the role of the victim who needs help. After the death of his wife, he explains, his frenetic sex life has ended, a fact that, according to his doctor, puts his life in danger.

To convince Rita to spend a night with him, Attilio offers them 300,000 lire, which would cover all their debts. The offer leaves Agostino and Bettina speechless, and causes a hysterical fit in Rodolfo, who ends up believing himself to be "an old madman who sits and watches another man sleep with his wife". Attilio does not lose his temper and re-launches an offer of 500,000 lire, stunning everyone and sits in bed waiting for the answer. In complete silence, Rita and Rodolfo try to make a decision together. While they try to decide, Maestro Agostino realizes that the old man has fallen asleep in the meantime and devises another plan: to turn off the light in the room where the bed is, turn all the clocks forward and place Rita next to Mr. Attilio. The plan works: waking up shortly after, Attilio believes the act is consummated; looking at his watch and seeing that it is late, he quickly leaves the room, not before leaving the promised amount. The four roommates congratulate each other on the successful plan, then sit down at the table.

Rita's dream of happiness, based on the new wealth she has gained, is interrupted by the division made by Agostino. Rita and Rodolfo will only have the earnings from previous clients and not the entire amount left after paying the debts. This division, as well as the lack of reaction from her husband, drives Rita so crazy that she decides to abandon the three of them and take her destiny into her own hands. Master Agostino, with his top hat on his head, tries pathetically to stop her, but she does not back down. Firm in her decision, Rita runs away from the house, Rodolfo tries to stop her and all the while Bettina and Agostino put the "loot" in a safe place.

Distribution:

Rita:  Mariana Presecan
Rodolfo:  Dorin Presecan
Agostino Mascariello:  Ion Tomorrow
Bettina:  Ileana Iurciuc
Antonio:  Alexander Cornea
Giovanni:  George Voinese
Attilio:  Marcel Popa
Michele:  Loredana Iuga
Robert:  Ion Ruscut

Technical director: Florin Popescu
Prompter: Florence Szabo
Lighting: Iosif Balogh, Laviniu Goron
Sound: Sorin Domide