The Glorious Ones

Lyrics

[FLAMINIO SCALA, spoken] Dear audience, let us take you now to our humble theater of the streets (sung) Picture Venice in spring, feel the mist in the air [OTHERS] Picture Venice [SCALA] There's a crude little stage that's been built in the square [OTHERS] In Venice [SCALA] Actors call to the passersby [ALL] Scandalizing the nuns [SCALA] And your spirits fly As you hear the cry [ALL] We're the glorious ones [SCALA] Ciao, signori, e signorine [OTHERS] Welcome dear signori to our story We'll be playing all thе parts [SCALA, spoken] I am Flaminio Scala, our founder and lead actor [OTHERS] Slapstick and disaster from thе master of the common works [SCALA, spoken] In honor of all actors on Earth and in Heaven [ALL] And their daughters and sons [OTHERS] Raucous comedy [SCALA] Grand vulgarity [OTHERS] Tears and tragedy [SCALA] All to do with me [ALL] And the glorious ones [SCALA, spoken] At the age of sixteen, I found myself on the streets, living by my wits, looking for my life's calling. And then, I found it [chatter from the ensemble] (sung) I saw misers and pretenders Benders and buffoons Ragged street performers dancing Whores with bosoms round as spoons Musicians and their tunes Overwhelming throngs of glorious humanity Characters of every hue And I knew From that early age I would make my mark upon the world Improvise this comic world I would put the world upon the stage [SOMEONE] That's insolence [PERSON 2] Oratory [PERSON 3] Unrequited love [PERSON 4] [?] [PERSON 5] Drama [SCALA] In short, senori, the pride and the glory Of my life [OTHERS] Hear our glorious tale of adversity and art [SCALA] Be forewarned you may hear the occasional fart [OTHERS] [?] [SCALA] With one hand on the crotch And one hand on the heart [GROUP 1] [?] banter [GROUP 2] And pantomimes [ALL] [?] [SCALA] Welcome! [PERSON 1] Enjoy! [PERSON 2] Ciao! [PERSON 3] Come with me [PERSON 4] See our show [PERSON 5] Commedia [SCALA] Flaminio Scala presents [ALL] The Glorious Ones!