Show Synopsis:
Guido Contini is a famous Italian director who is dealing with writers block on a script, the fact that he just turned forty, and his fear that his wife Luisa will leave him. He begins to hear and interact with other women he has known and loved throughout his life, and it's not clear whether he is imagining the women or whether they have followed him to the spa in Venice where he is trying to relax with Luisa. His mistress Carla tries to seduce him, his producer Lilliane wants him to make a musical film, his mother bathes him on a beach in a childhood memory, and the prostitute Saraghina teaches him about love in between his classes at Catholic school. Then his great muse Claudia, a famous film star, joins him on the beach, but realizes she does not want the role that he is trying to write - unbeknownst to him, she wants him to see her as a woman and not just as a a muse. Guido begins to improvise a movie incorporating these different women and how he destroys them and their hearts. Guido is left alone and he begins to think of suicide, but remembers himself at age nine and realizes it is not time to die, simply time to grow up. Guido realizes he misses one woman- Luisa.
Character:
Luisa Contini, a middle-aged Italian woman frustrated with the lack of engagement Guido has in their marriage.
Song Context:
Luisa reflects on her past life as an actress and her relationship with her husband, which has evolved from a creative professional relationship to a fizzling romantic one.
Fun Facts:
1. This musical is based on the film 8 1/2, which was a semi-autobiographical film directed by the noted director Federico Fellini.
2. The character of Luisa is loosely based on Giulietta Masina, who inspired and appeared in many of Fellini's films.
3. Karen Akers originated the role of Luisa in Broadway in her first professional acting role. She was honored with a Theatre World Award and Tony Award for her performance.
"My husband makes movies.
To make them he lives a kind of dream
In which his actions aren't always
What they seem.
He may be on to some unique romantic
Theme.
Some men catch fish, some men tie
Flies,
Some earn their living baking bread.
My husband, he goes a little crazy
Making movies instead.
My husband spins fantasies,
He lives them, then gives them to you
All.
When he was working on the film on
Ancient Rome,
He made the slave girls take the
Gladiators home.
Some men buy stocks, some men punch
Clocks,
Some leap where others dare to tread.
My husband as author and director,
Makes up stories in his head.
Guido Contini, Luisa Contini,
Number one genius and number one fan.
Guido Contini, Luisa Contini,
Daughter of well-to-do Florentine
Clan.
Long ago, twenty years ago,
Once the names were Guido Contini,
Luisa Del Forno,
Actress with dreams and a life of her
Own,
Passionate, wild and in love on Livorno,
Singing with Guido all night on the
Phone.
Long ago, someone else ago, how he
Needs me so,
And he'll be the last to know it.
My husband makes movies.
To make them, he makes himself
Obsessed.
He goes for weeks on end without a
Bit of rest,
No other way can he achieve his level
Best.
Some men read books, some shine their
shoes,
Some retire early when they've seen
The evening news.
My husband only rarely comes to bed,
My husband makes movies instead,
My husband...makes movies."