"The Miraculous Staircase" libretto

The
Miraculous Staircase
An Opera in One Act
Synopsis… of the Legend Perhaps you have heard about the legend of the miraculous staircase at Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It has been the subject of television’s “Unsolved Mysteries,” of a television movie titled “The Staircase,” of writings by architects and engineers, and of a legend by those who believe in miracles. According to the legend, the Loretto nuns, who operated a convent there, began a novena to Saint Joseph, patron of carpenters and builders, because they had a problem. Their beautiful little chapel -­‐ built by a French architect brought to Santa Fe by Bishop Lamy and based on the design of the Sainte Chapelle in Paris, France – did not have enough room for a staircase to ascend up to the choir loft. The carpenters they consulted said they would have to use a ladder, something the nuns found unsuitable and unattractive for such a beautiful space. What to do? Pray, of course. A novena, in fact. According to the legend, on the last day of the novena, a gray-­‐haired man came to the convent with a donkey and a tool chest, basically, a saw, a hammer, and a square. He asked for tubs of water to soak wood. They gave him the job and he began his work, and the result was exquisite. When the sisters went to pay the man, continues the account, he had vanished. There is no record of paying anyone a penny for the incredible piece of carpentry. The miracle rests in these facts. Only wood pegs (no nails) were used. The wood used was not indigenous to New Mexico. The winding staircase makes two complete 360-­‐degree turns with no center pole for support, meaning it hangs there with no support. The entire weight is on the base. Architects have said that by all laws of gravity, it should have crashed to the floor the minute it was stepped on. Meanwhile, it was used daily for nearly a hundred years. The Christian symbolism rests in the facts that there are thirty-­‐three steps. The edges of the wood of the perfectly curved stringers had nine splices on the outside and seven on the inside. Because the staircase has been considered a miracle, the opera needed a miracle to take place within the story, hence, the character of the young, blind servant-­‐girl, Angela. The composer was fortunate to be invited to climb the actual staircase to the choir loft during a visit to Santa Fe in 1998 with the hope that the legend would someday be told though a piece of music. This opera is the result. Richard Chiarappa Summer, 2011 2 The Miraculous Staircase
West Hartford Town Hall Auditorium
May 19, 2013
Original Cast Members
Mother Elena (mezzo soprano)
Sister Thomasina (alto)
Sister Martha (soprano)
Sister Pauline (mezzo-soprano)
Angela (soprano)
Carpenter (tenor)
Bishop Lamy (baritone)
Sarah Petersen
Kelly Shemeth
Courtney Liscio
Jilian Saber
Louise Carrozza
David Sylvia Stephen Wynn Original Orchestra Members
Flute – Tracy Norkun
Oboe/English Horn – John Bennett
Clarinet – Andrew Raibeck
Bassoon – Karla Lee
Horn 1 – Theresa Rice
Horn 2 – Jacqueline DesRosier
Timpani – Ronald Reisner Percussion 1 – Mary Dombroskas
Percussion 2 – Jill Rizzo
Harp – Amanda Evans
Violin 1 – Carin Wiesner
Violin 2 – Lisa Glowacki
Viola – George Fazzina
Cello – Michele Prizio
Bass – Michael Yehle
The premiere performance of The Miraculous Staircase took place on
May 4th, 2013 at Western Connecticut State University under the
direction of Dr. Margaret Astrup with the cast members listed above.
3 Dedication
This opera is dedicated with love and affection to my dear cousin,
Elena Ritoli McGurgan and her husband Robert McGurgan.
Acknowledgements
It is through the generosity of the following people that the original
recording of The Miraculous Staircase was made. They are all now
twenty-first century “patrons of art” through their support of the
Kickstarter project that enabled the recording.
Andrew & Jacqueline Raibeck, Corwyn Miyagishima, Tatsuo & Early Shirane, Michael L. Campbell, Kate & Ray Hardman, Andrea & Lap Cheng, Haig & Eileen Shahverdian, David Casano Family, Kris Manning Family, Christie & Edward J. Smith, Jenny & Gerard Vecchio, Bob & Susan Richardson, Maureen, Mike & Annie Williams, Lisa & Ray Petersen Family, Francoise Pratt Family, Lesley Blumenthal, Ann Randall Family, Dennis Tulimieri Family, Gabriel Löfvall, Paula Trebra, Dr. & Mrs. Gerald Jensen, Robyn DiPietro Family, Cathy Segal Garcia Family, Alex Zequeira, Dan Volpe, Gary & Donna Pandolfi, David & Kayta Baker, Dr. Bruce Rothschild Family, Lola Elliott Hugh & Rob Hugh, Ronald & Laura Reisner, Heather Bond, David White, Michael Harder, Sarah & Daniel O’Keefe, Sebastian & Norma Scarfe, Scott & Kendra Damiecki, Michael Dunne, Carol Smith, Jill Wynn, Robert & Elena Ritoli-­‐McGurgan, Paula McGovern, Martha Chiarappa, William & Emily Candee, , Blayne & Amanda Candy, Lori Candee, Christine & Ronald Robinson, Suzanne Pinkes Family, Marissa & Greg Gingeleskie, Robert Scrivener, Casimere Nocerino, Dr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Wrubel, Matthew & Eileen Avitable, Florence Ergin, Elaine V. Regopoulos, Patricia & William Candee, Stephen and Alexandra Dessants, Lydia Regopoulos, April & Corey Guilbault, John & Susan Beers, Lucile Wile, Elaine & David Briggs, Juliette Janchuk, Mitchell Sparks, Andre Sonnenberg
Additional Thanks…
I would also like to express my appreciation to Jitu Huntley of West
Hartford Community Television who has spent hours putting
together a documentary film about the background and creation of
this opera through interviews with cast members, with director Dr.
Maggie Astrup, and with me. In addition, Christopher Troianello
was instrumental in his support for the project and for the many
photos he took during the preliminary orchestra rehearsal as well as
the recording session itself.
4 Libretto
(The scene opens on a split stage. SR is a combination dining and meeting
room for the sisters. There is a large, oval table in the center with chairs
around it. At present, all four sisters are at the table, possibly finishing
dessert. The young blind housekeeper, Angela, is busy around the room.
SL – in darkness – is the interior of a chapel. The inside wall separates the
chapel from the meeting room. A choir loft, at the back of the chapel, is
the farthest upstage point. A drape or sheet covers the railing of the choir
loft. In the center a ladder rests against the choir railing. Pews face the
audience. Beautiful stained glass windows adorn the outer wall of the
chapel.)
SISTER MARTHA What are we to do, Mother Elena? MOTHER ELENA We must pray. A lot. SISTER THOMASINA How much is a lot? MOTHER ELENA Well, at least a novena. SISTER THOMASINA A novena? SISTER MARTHA Nine days? SISTER PAULINE (spoken) Oh, my. MOTHER ELENA What do we do best? SISTER PAULINE Praying. MOTHER ELENA Yes, praying. Don't prayers always help? SISTER THOMASINA What if this time our prayers don't work? MOTHER ELENA That won't be. Wait, you'll see. (A knock at the door) Angela, get the door, please. (Angela makes her way to the door) SISTER MARTHA Who could be calling at this late hour? SISTER PAULINE Maybe a beggar. SISTER THOMASINA Maybe a thief! MOTHER ELENA Why must you always think the worst? Why do you worry so? You're always doubting. MOTHER ELENA, SISTERS MARTHA & PAULINE Where's your faith? SISTER THOMASINA It's not easy to show. SISTER PAULINE You always question every thing. SISTER MARTHA Where did you lose your trust? MOTHER ELENA What happened to the child within? ANGELA It's a carpenter. SISTER THOMASINA Another carpenter. MOTHER ELENA Show him in, Angela. 5 6 SISTER THOMASINA He is the ninth one we have had. How do we know he's good? MOTHER ELENA Wait till we meet him. Quick, a prayer. CARPENTER Good evening, sisters. I'm sorry for interrupting. MOTHER ELENA Good evening, sir. What brings you to us? CARPENTER I heard that you're in need of a carpenter. SISTER THOMASINA Not just a carpenter, but the right carpenter. MOTHER ELENA What sister means is others have come. SISTER THOMASINA Eight. MOTHER ELENA But none have succeeded. CARPENTER Succeeded in what? MOTHER ELENA To build a simple staircase inside our little chapel. We can't get to our choir loft. The builders left no room. SISTER MARTHA They said to use a ladder to get up to the choir loft. SISTER PAULINE But ladders aren't so beautiful. MOTHER ELENA And there is one more thing. The bishop has been asking when he can bless our chapel. So time is short. I must report. CARPENTER I'll try to build a staircase inside your little chapel. But I’ll need one assistant… 7 ANGELA I’d like it to be me. MOTHER ELENA But Angela, my darling, this man has never been here. He doesn’t know his way around, he’ll need all kinds of help. ANGELA My eyes won’t be much help, sir. I cannot see what you can. Though I am blind I always find the things we need, the things I need. CARPENTER Then Angela will help me build your simple staircase. ANGELA May I? MOTHER ELENA Yes. ANGELA CARPENTER Thank you, sister! Thank you! We will build a staircase.
MOTHER ELENA What is your name, sir? CARPENTER It’s not important. MOTHER ELENA Then what shall we call you? CARPENTER Just carpenter. MOTHER ELENA Just carpenter? CARPENTER Just carpenter. That is what I am. It is what I do. It is all I know. SISTER THOMASINA Let’s hope he is good. MOTHER ELENA Tell us what you need carpenter. 8 CARPENTER I don’t need a thing. I’ve got my square, and my saw and my hammer. But I will need some water, buckets full of water. MOTHER ELENA We’ll bring you water, won’t we? SISTER MARTHA Yes! SISTER PAULINE Yes! SISTER THOMASINA (beat) Yes. MOTHER ELENA Buckets full everyday. Won’t we? SISTER MARTHA Yes! SISTER PAULINE Yes! SISTER THOMASINA (beat) Yes. Why do you need so much water to work with? CARPENTER First I cut the wood, then I square the wood, then I have to soak it. So I can shape it. SISTER THOMASINA (spoken) Shape it into what? CARPENTER Into steps. But first I have to see your little chapel and choir loft. ANGELA I can take you there. I can show you now, if sister let’s me. May I show him? MOTHER ELENA Yes, Angela, you may show him. We will all go in case he has questions. CARPENTER How beautiful! This is beautiful! It’s a work of art, it’s a place of light, it’s a sacred space. 9 MOTHER ELENA When will you begin, Carpenter? CARPENTER I could get my tools. I could start right now! SISTER MARTHA We have evening prayers. CARPENTER Then the break of dawn. SISTER PAULINE We have morning prayers. CARPENTER Then after morning prayers. (The lights dim, representing nightfall. During the musical interlude the
lights come up, representing daybreak)
CARPENTER Angela, the tap, tap, tap. Can you find the tap, tap, tap? I think I left it on the floor by the very last pew. ANGELA He thinks he left it, he thinks he left it on the floor, by the last pew. Here, here it is I found it right where you said it was. Now you can do your tap, tap, tap. CARPENTER Angela, take your time. I’m over here. ANGELA Please, say again. CARPENTER I’m over here, by the wall. By this wall we’ll build the staircase. This is where the steps will go. It will be a spiral staircase. It will turn and turn and reach the point where it rests upon the choir loft as it spins up from the floor. ANGELA I can just imagine what it will look like. I can just imagine what the stairs will look like, climbing one by one. I can just imagine what the nuns will look like, climbing one by one. Higher and higher, up to the choir loft. Getting the blessing of Bishops Lamy. I can just imagine, only just imagine… 10 CARPENTER She can just imagine, only imagine. (Time passes as the scene switches from the chapel to the meeting room)
SISTER THOMASINA I don’t see a staircase. MOTHER ELENA Give him time. SISTER THOMASINA All we do is bring him water, bucket after bucket full. Soon the bishop will be knocking. Won’t he get a big surprise! MOTHER ELENA Why must you always doubt? Give them a chance. SISTER THOMASINA He won’t let us see his progress. Everything is secretive. I don’t see a staircase rising. Who knows if he’ll get it done? MOTHER ELENA He is our best hope, sister. What would you have me do? SISTER THOMASINA Tell him to let us watch him. Take down the sheet! Show us the steps! SISTER MARTHA What sister means to say is we haven’t seen his work. SISTER PAULINE If we could see his progress we would be satisfied. MOTHER ELENA I’ll go and ask him now. (music interlude) He very politely said “no.” SISTERS MARTHA & PAULINE He very politely said “no.” SISTER THOMASINA Well, we’ll see about that! MOTHER ELENA Sister! 11 (Lights up on the chapel)
ANGELA Carpenter, where did you learn your craft? CARPENTER By practicing. ANGELA Practicing what? CARPENTER Taking wood and sawing, sawing every day. Soaking wood and shaping, shaping every day. ANGELA Sawing, soaking, shaping, who showed you all that? Did you have a teacher guiding you along? CARPENTER Angela, I had a guide. Someone who showed me everything that I know. ANGELA Was he wise? Was he old? CARPENTER He was both, wise and old. With his hands he guided both of mine. With his eyes he showed me what to do. Angela, oh, Angela, dear Angela! Soon you’ll understand. ANGELA Carpenter, you too are wise and… CARPENTER And? ANGELA And very smart. And I know… CARPENTER Know what? ANGELA You’ll build the finest staircase. CARPENTER Angela, it will be beautiful, with your help. 12 ANGELA I’ll do all I can. CARPENTER ANGELA I know. Goodnight. Goodnight. (The Carpenter exits. Angela rests. Music interlude. Sisters Thomasina,
Martha and Pauline cautiously enter one by one)
ANGELA Who is there? SISTERS MARTHA & PAULINE Please don't be afraid. Angela it's us, Sister Martha, Sister Pauline, Sister Thomasina. ANGELA But why are you here? You're not supposed to be. SISTER THOMASINA Yes, we know. But I was having trouble sleeping, so I thought I'd come and pray. ANGELA What about the other sisters? Were they having trouble too? Well? SISTER THOMASINA Angela, all through life I have learned to be concerned. SISTERS THOMASINA & MARTHA Angela, you are young and naive so you believe. SISTERS THOMASINA, MARTHA & PAULINE Angela, there are things you can't see! SISTER MARTHA We didn't mean it that way. ANGELA Just because, just because my eyes don’t see doesn’t mean I can’t believe. I, I believe in Carpenter. I have faith in… (During the following Carpenter enters and overhears)
SISTER THOMASINA Angela! None of us have seen a thing. That’s the problem. And tomorrow the bishop arrives. 13 CARPENTER Tomorrow you’ll see the staircase. We’ve finished our work. We’re ready to show it. Aren’t we, Angela? ANGELA Yes, Carpenter. (All exit. Musical interlude announces the arrival of Bishop Lamy)
BISHOP LAMY Hello, Sisters! I wanted to surprise you. Maybe the surprise is on me. Hello, hello! Anyone here? ALL SISTERS Bishop Lamy, Bishop Lamy! BISHOP LAMY (spoken) Yes! ALL SISTERS (Overlapping) We didn’t know you had arrived. We didn’t know you had arrived. If we knew, if we knew… BISHOP LAMY It’s all right, Sisters. I’ve come to bless your little chapel. It’s time to have it done. ALL SISTERS This is what we have been praying for all along. BISHOP LAMY See what praying does for you? ALL SISTERS See what prayers have done for us. MOTHER ELENA (directed at Sister Thomasina) Yes, all of us. BISHOP LAMY And where is Angela, the charming girl who helps you out? MOTHER ELENA She’s with the carpenter. BISHOP LAMY The carpenter? 14 MOTHER ELENA The carpenter. BISHOP LAMY What carpenter? Our latest one. SISTER THOMASINA BISHOP LAMY How many does that make? MOTHER ELENA (spoken) Now let me think. Nine. Is he any good? BISHOP LAMY MOTHER ELENA Yes, we think he is. BISHOP LAMY Think? We haven’t seen his work. You haven’t seen his work? But Angela has. SISTER THOMASINA BISHOP LAMY MOTHER ELENA BISHOP LAMY But how can this be? The child cannot see! Who is this man, Mother Elena? Where did he come from? What is his name? ALL SISTERS (overlapping) He never said. He wouldn’t say. He never said. He wouldn’t tell us his name. He wouldn’t say when we asked him his name. ANGELA (entering) His name is Carpenter. BISHOP LAMY Angela! 15 ANGELA He just appeared one night right before evening prayers. BISHOP LAMY What did he say? ANGELA He had a gentle voice. He let me help him build the staircase. BISHOP LAMY That’s very nice. And when will it be done? ANGELA It is. See for yourself. (Musical interlude as they enter the chapel. Angela releases the drape.)
BISHOP LAMY How beautiful! Simply beautiful! It’s a work of art, winding round and round… Is the staircase safe? MOTHER ELENA No one’s tried it out. No one really knows. ANGELA I do. BISHOP LAMY How do you know, child? ANGELA My faith. BISHOP LAMY Faith is very good. But you can’t climb a staircase on faith. ANGELA I can. MOTHER ELENA BISHOP LAMY Angela, come now, dear, Angela… How can she, Angela… SISTERS Angela! 16 BISHOP LAMY Angela, where is the carpenter? He is gone. He took his tools and left. ANGELA MOTHER ELENA Why’d he leave? He has not been paid. ANGELA All he said was his work was done. BISHOP LAMY Angela, be careful as you climb. ANGELA ALL SISTERS Twenty-­‐nine. The staircase has so Angela, Angela don’t fall! Careful now, many steps. This makes thirty-­‐two, you have reached the top. thirty-­‐three, I have reached the top! ANGELA (With sudden, surprise recognition she points them out individually) Mother Elena! Sister Martha! Sisters Pauline and Thomasina! And Bishop Lamy! BISHOP LAMY ALL SISTERS ANGELA I see! I see! I see! I see!
She sees. She sees. She She sees! She sees! She It’s a miracle!
sees! She sees! It’s a sees! She sees! It’s a (exclaimed) I see!
miracle that she sees! miracle that she sees! It’s a miracle that she It’s a miracle! It’s a sees! It’s a miracle! It’s miracle! a miracle! Curtain