We Love The Love Of Three Oranges

The Love of Three Oranges. An interesting title for a very interesting play. Wrote in 2003 by Hillary DePiano, this commedia dell’arte play was a great laughter fix for the audiences that watched.

 Set in the king’s castle, the king, played by Isaac Klander 12 and Pantalone played by Jarrett Gosch 11 are brainstorming ways to cure the prince, played by MM’s Alec Hansen, who is ‘dying’ from terminal hypochondria.

The conclusion reached, is the prince needs some laughter to get healthy again. They pull out all the stops, preparing a big party.

Most importantly, bringing in the clowns. The amazing, hilarious, Truffaldino, played by Tyler Ankenman 12 to be precise. 

The ridiculous feats and entertainment brought to the young prince is sure to make anyone double over in laughter. With jousting, rubber chicken throwing, and cookies, there’s no way to keep a straight face.

But every story has to have a bad guy, and the epitome of bad is reached in the evil witch, Fata Morgana (Dun Dun Dunnnn) Played by Chelsea McDonald 10.

Fata Morgana puts a curse on the Prince, forcing him to fall in love with, three…juicy…oranges. Played by Kati Mulligan9, Hannah Kessler12, and MM’s Mercedes Cheslock11.

So the prince, clad in his best baking armor, and Truffaldino, reluctantly following along, make it to Creonta’s castle, where the three oranges are.

After encountering the gate of utmost horror played by Darren Johnson12, a rope of unutterable horror played by Erik Rakestraw10, a donkey of unspeakable horror played by Meisha Amnotte9, and a cook of about average horror played Kyra Dykstra10, the two rescue the oranges.

After the long journey, Truffaldino is quite parched and decides to open an orange. (After all, there are three of them)

He quickly realizes that the oranges are extremely dehydrated princesses. He opens up the second one, hoping to give the juice of that orange to the water deprived princess.

That orange is of course another princess, and Truffaldino unintentionally kills of two of the princes loves. The prince saves his third, and plans to marry her.

Fata Morgana tricks the prince and exchanges his princess for her evil minion, Smeraldina. The king makes him follow through with his marital promise, and Fata Morgana almost takes hold of the kingdom.

At the wedding dinner, the princess that vanished comes back as a dove, and saves the prince from marrying the evil Smeraldina.

All is resolved, the prince and princess are married, and everyone is happy!

Especially the audience, who leaves the theatre with split sides.