Tally s Blood Ann Marie Di Mambro Synopsis

Tally’s Blood Ann Marie Di Mambro

Synopsis o Set in Scotland Italy before during and after the Second World o o o War, The play covers a 20 -year period from 1936 to 1955. Scotland (24 scenes) and Italy (7 scenes) 'Tally's Blood' follows the growing friendship between a young Italian girl, living with her Aunt and Uncle in their 'Tally Cafe' in the West of Scotland, and a young Scottish boy. When World War Two breaks out, the tensions and prejudices between the two families heighten as the Italian immigrants in Scotland find their home country at war with their adopted country. Playwright and television writer, Ann Marie Di Mambro, uses the experiences of Scotland's Italian community to tell this touching and funny story about love, prejudice and understanding.

Who fought Who in WW 2? Allied Forces Axis Powers o Britain (Churchill) Germany (Hitler) Italy (Mussolini) Japan (Hirohito) o France, o Australia, o New Zealand o Canada, o India o The Soviet Union (Stalin) o China (Chiang Kai-Shek o United States of America (Franklin D Roosevelt).

Nationalism o Two nationalities are involved – Scottish and Italian. o Differences in their national characteristics are important but there are similarities, too – religion, family ties, hardships.

The Italian Family o Massimo Pedreschi (Patriarch) o Rosinella Pedreschi – his wife o Franco Pedreschi – his brother o Lucia Ianelli – their niece who lives with them since her mother (Rosinella’s sister) died. o Luigi Ianelli – Lucia’s father in Italy

Italian Family Tree (deceased) da ug ht er Rosinella marries Massimo Uncle and aunt of Lucia Ianelli n Luigi Ianelli so Rosinella’s s marrie sister so n ‘Daddy’ Pedreschi Franco

The Scottish Family o Adam Devlin (The dad) o Mrs Devlin o Hughie Devlin – their son / brother o Bridget Devlin – their daughter / sister

Scottish Family Tree Mrs Devlin Bridget Devlin married Adam Devlin Hughie Devlin Six other children

Rosinella Pedreschi o o o o Married Family is everything Fiercely protective Pushes people away No limits to what she will do Controlling Becomes cold and bitter Fiercely nationalistic Prejudiced Selfish Tries to shift the blame Realises the error of her ways Does a complete U-turn “Nobody loves their families like the Italians” “But it’s alright for me. I’m Italian. ” “It’s one thing to play around with them, so long as you marry your own kind. ” “If you knew what I’ve been through. ”

Massimo Pedreschi Shopkeeper “Everyone likes you” Married Born in Italy Moved to Scotland as a wee boy “I used to think I had two Happy in Scotland countries, now I feel I’ve Shows compassion and consideration got nowhere. ” Hard working Own Business Not got an easy relationship with father “Just you have it, Big hearted Luigi…” Kind Shocked by internment Loves his wife deeply Becomes distanced from his wife as she becomes cold and bitter o Becomes reconciled to his wife as she changes o o o o

Franco Pedreschi o o o o Born in Scotland “I won’t go all the Works in father’s shop way, I promise, ” 2 nd generation Italian In his 20’s at opening of play Can dance well “I wouldn’t want you Hot-blooded Italian male Loving to regret it. ” Faithful Loves Bridget Signs up to fight for Britain before Italy enters the war Dies in war fighting for the British Defies family pressure “I cannie be expected to Proud of Italian heritage spend my whole life Sees himself as British working from morning till night in a wee pokey shop. ”

Bridget Devlin o o o o Hughie’s sister “Just a wee Scottish tart Oldest of 8 for him to practice on. ” Catholic Late teens at start of play Head of the family financially Mother cannot cope “You should be going Supportive of others to the dancing, get Loves Franco yourself a girlfriend. ” Gets pregnant Has abortion Encourages Hughie to follow his dream Spinster Bus conductress Mid 30’s at end of play

Hughie Devlin o o o o “I have waited years – Years – for Lucia. Blending into the background, knowing my place- ‘och it’s just you. ” Bridget’s brother 5 years old at start of play Father killed in mining accident Seen in the play aged 9 Hard working Grows fond of Lucia Falls in love with Lucia Determined Tried to become Lucia’s blood brother Is scared his love is not reciprocated Follows Lucia to Italy Declares his love for Lucia Elopes with Lucia

Luigi Ianelli o o o o Lucia’s father Rosinella’s brother-in-law Farmer Widow at start of play Five sons at start of play One daughter at start of play Remarries and has a baby Lazy Greedy Sponger Wants his daughter to marry well Covets his neighbour’s land Looking for anything he can get “When you’ve finished the clothes, you’ve to come up to the house. Ma wife’s going to teach you to clean a chicken. ” “Giachetta scozzese”

Lucia Ianelli “Oh, who’s that lovely wee girl. ” o o o o o Adopted by Aunt and Uncle Brought to Scotland aged 2 Spoiled Manipulative Learns about prejudice and racism at school Falls in love with Hughie Devlin Returns to Italy “She’s not going to Scozzia. Elopes with Hughie She’s not marrying any “Oh, who’s that lovely wee girl. ” Scozzese. She’s staying here. ”

Structure of the play o 31 scenes o Chronological. o Twenty years. o Large gaps in the time-line: n Act One has scenes set in 1936, 1939, 1943 and 1944. n Act Two is set eleven years later in 1955. o A cinematic structure which pushes the storyline on quickly, even when there is a break in the time sequence. It builds up a sense of tension.

Relevance to Scottish society o About Scotland Scottish society – but seen through the Italian eyes of Rosinella. n The poverty of 1930 s Scotland. n A lack of employment. n War. n Ambition.

Relevance to Scotland n n The dependence of young people on their parents. Integration of foreign nationals. The difference between the clear moral standards of the Italian community and the perceived laxity of the Scots. Racism – on both sides, as shown by the mob on the one hand Rosinella’s contempt for Scottish men and lack of respect for Scottish girls on the other.

Language o Realistic working class Glaswegians. o Italian phrases or speech patterns introduced o Scenes set in Italy o Device of having characters speak in the Glaswegian dialect although they are supposedly speaking Italian enables the audience to understand dialogue though Hughie cannot. o Children’s vocabulary and sentence structure

Comedy, wit and humour o This is a predominantly comic play, though serious issues are dealt with. o Much comedy arises from the use of dialect and the sharp Glasgow wit. o The relationships between characters are another source of comedy.

Characters o One important character, Luigi, has only a very brief appearance at the beginning of Act One, and is in fewer than half the scenes in Act Two. o One influential character – Massimo’s father – does not appear at all but we hear a great deal about him and recognise his influence on his sons and daughter-in-law.

Character Relationships o – Franco and Massimo. Strong brotherly affection which survives even their bitter fight over enlistment. Massimo covers for Franco, deceiving their father. Franco is a little jealous of Massimo’s break with their father.

o – Franco and Bridget. Although Franco does enjoy his status as a heroic figure, he does seem to be genuinely in love with Bridget, prepared to risk his father’s wrath and boasting about her to Rosinella, in spite of her hostility to Scottish girls.

o – Lucia and Hughie. They begin as childish sparring partners and they never quite lose this fun element in their relationship. This makes it harder for Hughie to speak up and change the nature of their friendship.

o – Lucia and Rosinella is devoted to Lucia, forgetting that she may have to lose her some day. Her lack of children of her own makes Lucia all the more important to her. She spoils Lucia and finds it hard to discipline her. Lucia, as a youngster, ruthlessly manipulates her aunt, well aware of Rosinella’s devotion to her. As she gets older, she finds Rosinella’s care for her becoming stifling and she hurts Rosinella with a bitter outburst.

o – Luigi and the others. Luigi is driven by self-interest and a desire for possessions. We see some of his sly ability to control others reflected in his daughter. He sees Massimo and Rosinella as legitimate targets, even offering to let them pay for Lucia’s wedding to Mario. He uses Lucia as a slave, presumably having treated his wives in the same way.

o – ‘Daddy’ and the others. Though sulking because Massimo has opened his own shop, Daddy still expects help from him and Rosinella, demanding that the latter cut his toe-nails for him. (A task which she willingly undertakes, recognising her place as a woman in the family. ) In Massimo’s account of the scene at the camp at Bury, his father becomes a very different person – a small, frightened, lost old man.