Players in search of a stage. Unrecorded.

[Theater] / Francesco Taddei. Elenco della Compagnia Francesco Taddej detto Ciccio [letterpress sheet]. Repubblica Cesalpina, Alli Cittadini Deputazione del Teatro Pesaro. Il Capo-Comico Francesco Taddej. Desideroso di venire a passare una stagione in lodesta Città … [accompanying manuscript letter]. Cesena [letter]: “26 Germile an. 9. R:” (16 April 1801). [23.5 x 18.9 cm the letter; 23.6 x 19.0 cm printed list], [1] f. manuscript letter with wax seal, and [1] f. letterpress handbill. Both sheets folded for mailing, small loss to letter from unsealing. Well preserved. 
 
 
Letter written by the renowned capo-comico Francesco Taddei (1770-1830; stage name “Ciccio”), addressed to the directors of the Teatro di Pesaro, inquiring if their theater might be able to employ his troupe of players in the upcoming spring season. Taddei promised “a program of brand new, well-decorated performances” and included in the letter a printed list of the names of actors and actresses in the company. Such correspondence must have been a regular part of booking stages/players, but this category of ephemeral material has become quite rare today.
 
The letterpress list includes the names of 5 principal female players, 6 principal male players, as well as others who specialized in ancillary roles, commedia dell’arte performances (e.g., Arlecchino), and behind-the-scenes workers (prompter, scenic specialists, coat checker).
 
The letter is signed by Taddei from Cesena and dated 16 April 1801 using the French Revolutionary Calendar (“26 Germile an. 9. R:”) at the time in use in the Cisalpine Republic. The paper of the letterpress list is watermarked with the seal of Cisalpine Republic.
 
On the letter an annotation in a different hand state that “the theater is engaged,” which suggests that Taddei’s request was unsuccessful.
 
 
The letterpress list is not located by OCLC, KVK or OPAC/ICCU.
 
*L. Rasi, I comici italiani, biografia, bibliografia, iconografia, p. 560; A. Colomberti & A. Bentoglio, Memorie di un artista drammatico, p. 383.