Libretto For Act II Can Be Found Here
ACT II
SCENE 1
The
barbershop has been busy the past few weeks, and Luigi has continued
his philandering ways. He's hired Benny, a local young man, to be what Luigi
calls his 'stooge', someone who knows people in town and knows
everyone's business. Benny arrives one day as the barbershop is opening,
and he relays a warning to Luigi, to beware of Sammy, the husband of Jill, whom Luigi is concentrating his sexual efforts on lately. In Benny's aria, he warns that Sammy, who owns the local hardware store, is a violent man who isn't quite right in the head. He fears that Sammy will do Luigi harm:
Benny's aria -
Luigi's temper erupts at the idea that he should run away and be afraid of Sammy. In his aria BASTA (Italian for 'enough') he gets very animated and hints at what he lived through in fascist Italy (remember this opera is based in the early 1950's; WWII is still a vivid memory for many, especially for an Italian immigrant who fought in the Italian resistance.) Luigi relates how he has seen evidence of Sammy's violence towards his battered and bruised wife, and assures all that he's not afraid of Sammy! He tells of Jill's stories about how Sammy goes away for days at a time, and Luigi knows where he goes; mainly to other towns to visit different brothels. He refuses Benny's offer to hide out at his house:
Luigi's aria - BASTA!
Ever the voice of reason, Luigi's brother Antonio stops sweeping the floor and calms down his brother, while once again admonishing him for his involvement with married women, as it adds to the communities suspicions about them and causes trouble. He tells him if he must have women, there are many unmarried 'safer' women.
Antonio's aria -
Antonio
puts an arm around Luigi and they go to the backroom of the barbershop
to have a talk.The patrons discuss what they've just heard, and consider
making book on how long Luigi will last against Sammy. they show their true colors as they try to figure the odds on Luigi winning a fight against Sammy, and even as far as what they'll do if Sammy kills Luigi!
Patrons - Making Book On Luigi
SCENE 2
As the barbershop gets ready to close after a busy day, Luigi and Antonio have had a very busy day at the shop, and as Luigi brushes the suit of the last customer of the day, he looks at Antonio who is sweeping the floor. He confesses that he's been thinking about what Antonio told him earlier. He tells him the talking-to angered him at first, but the angrier he got, the more he knew Antonio was right. Luigi has decided to stop seeing married women, that he will no longer see Sammy's wife Jill, and that they both like it in Paducah and they want to stay. He knows Antonio has a steady lady friend, and that Luigi goes to the flowershop every morning to get a flower for his lapel, and that he and Louisa, owner of the shop have conversations that are getting longer and longer, with Louisa occasionally touching his shoulder and helping him place the flower. He admits to having feelings for her, and having thoughts of settling down to raise a family.
Luigi's aria - I Like Her So Much
Antonio greets Luigi's comments with joy, and doesn't doubt Luigi's sincerity. He tells him to clean himself up, ad go over to the flowershop right then and invite Louisa to dinner, no time like the present! He tells about the woman he loves, and has wanted to ask her to marry him, but with Luigi's mischief, he thought it wouldn't work as they might have to skip town. But if Luigi is willing to change, he can ask her.
Antonio's aria -
SCENE 3
The Flower Shop
Louisa arrives back at her flowershop after saying yes to Luigi's invitation to dinner. He walked her back to the shop, and she stands inside the closed shop door and relates about the evening. How much she likes being with him, and how her feelings are growing for him. He was a totally gentleman, clean cut and well pressed, something she obviously admires in a man. She invites him into the shop for coffee, but her politely refuses, the meaning of which isn't lost on her. He did not take the obvious invitation to something more than coffee, and she admires him all the more for it. After his refusal, she gives him a big hug, he returns the hug and kisses her lightly on each cheek. He holds the door open for her, and she still stands leaning against the door long after Luigi has left.
Louisa’s aria - Are You For Real? Luigi?
Scene 4
The Barbershop, 3:00 in the morning
The Barbershop, 3:00 in the morning
Luigi and Antonio are asleep in the apartments in the back of the barbershop. Luigi is restless, tossing and turning, when he begins to hear a pounding on the back door. He gets up cursing and grabs a shotgun. He looks out the window of the door and sees that it's Jill! She rushes into the room when he opens it and tells him how she was worried and tried to call him but only got a busy signal, so she came over. She confesses her near fanatical love for him, tells how husband Sammy will be gone for 3 days and gives him an invite to visit her. Luigi gently sits her down ,gives her a drink of water and tells her that there love affair is over. She does not take it calmly! She curses him, in desperation tells him she will never let him go, that he is hers forever! Luigi loses his patience and tells her that the sex was good, but that he doesn't love her and it would be wrong to keep leading her on. She grows more frantic until Luigi tells her enough! and with some choice words, makes true with his warning to throw her out of the shop, and slams the door!
Jill and Luigi arias
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