Cast
Fra Diavolo: Ugo Benelli
Lord Cockburn: Antonio Boyer
Lady Pamela: Anna Reynolds
Lorenzo: Nigel Douglas
Matteo: Paschal Allen
Zerlina: Alberta Valentini
Giacomo: Enrico Fissore
Beppo: Renato Ercolani
Crew
Set Design | Reginald Woolley |
Costume Design | Reginald Woolley |
Wexford Chorus Master | Mrs C Hore |
Visiting Chorus Master | Oliver Browne |
Assistant Chorus Master | Nora O'Leary |
The Plot
The opera tells the story of a notorious bandit named Fra Diavolo, who terrorizes the Italian countryside. In the opera, Fra Diavolo is pursued by the bumbling Captain Lorenzo and his two soldiers, Matteo and Giacomo, who are sent to capture him.
The plot of the opera revolves around the attempts of a wealthy English couple, Lord and Lady Cockburn, to travel through Italy to their destination. Along the way, they encounter Fra Diavolo, who poses as a marquis and attempts to seduce Lady Cockburn. The bandit's plans are foiled by the arrival of Lorenzo and his soldiers, who are initially mistaken for fellow bandits by Fra Diavolo.
As the story unfolds, Fra Diavolo becomes increasingly desperate to avoid capture, leading to a series of comedic misunderstandings and mistaken identities. Eventually, Lorenzo and his soldiers succeed in capturing Fra Diavolo, and the English couple is able to continue on their journey.