ACTIIT Scene 1 (The lights come up on the palace. A minute passes and nothing happens. Finally the NARRATOR runs into the theatre in a panic wearing in a long jacket, whispers “Sorry!” to the audience, and claps to let things begin. PANTALONE enters giving instructions to servants who run back and forth getting the Prince things for his trip. He then notices the audience and begins to fill them in.) PANTALONE. What a change! What a change! So, much has hap- pened! Who would have believed it! Let’s recap, shall we? (For the following, he has cards with the characters mentioned badly drawn on each. He indicates each of them as he goes.) Prince Tartaglia, who was confined to his room, dying of hypochon- dria only an Act ago, is now obsessed with leaving the castle, and all because of that witch, Fata Morgana. (Chord.) The clown Truffaldino had finally made him laugh, curing him of her first curse when Mor- gana cursed him again, this time to fall in love with three oranges. That's three specific oranges. Why any old oranges won't dois beyond me. It’s not like we don’t have hundreds of them in the royal kitchen that he could have his pick of! But, alas, he is determined to go search for them. Nothing can calm the prince or restrain him from this im- possible quest and his father the King has become sick with grief. This whole thing is beginning to sound like a fairy tale on crack. (In marches TARTAGLIA with great purpose followed meekly by TRUFFALDINO and SERVANTS who carry a bag. PAN- TALONE hides from TARTAGLIA’s wrath behind the cards and then sneaks out.) TARTAGLIA. Well, where are they? I've waited for over an hour now. (TRUFFALDINO opens the shoe bag and takes out a pair of what- ever shoe you find funniest. We used classic white Keds.) What are these? I ask you to get me iron shoes that will last me throughout my quest around the world and you hand me these? (He beats TRUFFALDINO with them and then throws them off- stage.) TRUFFALDINO. But where am I supposed to find a pair of iron shoes? TARTAGLIA. Did you try a shoe store? TRUFFALDINO. Yes! I even went to a blacksmith and he thought I was a lunatic. 33,