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based on the novel “Ardiente Paciencia” by Antonio Skarmeta

Book by Trevor Bentham and Eden Phillips
Music by Michael Jeffrey
Lyrics by Eden Phillips
Orchestrations by Craig Barna
National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Craig Barna
Studio Performance Directed by Philip Swan

Cast:
Pablo Neruda, the Poet                    Ethan Freeman
Matilde, Neruda’s wife                      Jennifer Hepburn
Mario Jimenez, the Postman           Simon Thomas
Jose Jiminez, Mario’s father            Stuart Pendred
Beatriz Gonzalez                               Joanna Ampil
Rosa Gonzalez, Beatriz’s mother   Siobhan McCarthy
Labbe, the Political deputy               Hal Fowler
Cosme, the Postmaster                     Graham Bickley
Father Zulueta, the Priest                  Arvid Larsen

Women of Isla Negra:
Guilietta                                              Robyn North
Carmen                                              Jennifer Hepburn
Raffaela                                              Madalena Alberto
Dolores                                               Sarah Lark
Francesca                                          Aimie Atkinson         
Maria                                                   Rosa O’Reilly

Fishermen:
Antonio                                                Ben Watson
Paco                                                     Paul Betts
Miguel                                                  Adam Ellis
Tomas                                                  Robin Chalk
Paolo                                                    Stephen Carlile
Fernando                                             Matt Harrop

THE MUSICAL
Ardiente Paciencia is the novel by Antonio Skarmeta on which the 1994 Oscar-winning film Il Postino was based.

In contrast to the movie, the musical follows the setting and time frame of the novel: Isla Negra, a fishing village on the Chilean coast, 1970-73. Mario, inarticulate and wildly romantic, gets a job as postman to the poet Pablo Neruda. Learning from Neruda, Mario woos the beautiful Beatriz in a way that is unusual to her: in words. The pair fall in love, and after being caught in a delicate situation are forced by Beatriz’s mother, Rosa, to marry. She puts the couple to work in her taverna.

The up-and-down love story of Mario and Beatriz is set against Chile’s political backdrop in the years between the election of Marxist president Salvador Allende in 1970 and General Pinochet’s military coup of 1973. Throughout the story, Cosme, Isla Negra’s postmaster and a dedicated left-winger, clashes with Labbe, the right wing political deputy, a contest which ultimately costs Cosme his life.

Meanwhile, Mario’s hero-worship of Neruda leads him to become not only poet and lover but a Marxist follower as well. His notebook, in which he has naively written ‘Mario Jimenez – Communist’ is found by Labbe, now a henchman of Pinochet, and

as Neruda is taken into custody Mario becomes one of Chile’s ‘Disappeared’, leaving Beatriz about to give birth to their baby. She and her mother leave Isla Negra, in the hope that the child will embody the spirit of poetry and freedom with which Neruda has entrusted Mario.

1. Overture
   Orchestra
2. Morning On The Quay/Be A Postman
   Company
3. Please Go On Dancing
   Mario, Neruda, Matilde
4. Taca-Taca
   Raffaela, Carmen, Dolores, Beatriz, Mario
5. Strangers
   Beatriz, Rosa, Labbe, Mario
6. See The Light
   Labbe, Cosme, Mario, Jose, Rosa
7. Metaphor
   Neruda, Mario
8. Dance At Rosa's
   Company
9. Lost In Love/The Argument
   Mario, Beatriz, Rosa
10. Speak From The Heart
    Neruda
11. Poetry Is Poison
    Rosa, Neruda
12. Now Is The Time
    Labbe, Cosme, Neruda, Mario, Beatriz, Rosa, Company

1. Entr'acte
   Orchestra
2. Earthquake Cosme
   Company
3. This Is It Zulueta
   Mario, Beatriz, Cosme, Rosa, Company
4. Boomtime
   Company
5. Stolen Words
   Mario
6. Boom To Bust
   Cosme, Rosa, Labbe
7. Lost In Love reprise
   Mario, Beatriz
8. The Puma Waits
   Labbe
9. Sounds And Sights
   Neruda, Mario, Beatriz
10. The Puma Strikes
    Labbe, Soldiers
11. You're A Man
    Beatriz
12. Sounds And Sights reprise
    Mario, Neruda
13. The Arrest
    Labbe, Neruda, Matilde, Mario
14. Conclusion
    Orchestra
15. Lost In Love (Popular version)
    Simon Thomas, Joanna Ampil
16. You're A Man (Popular version)
    Joanna Ampil