A traveling troupe of players performs comedies to all the country towns. Canio, leader of the acting company, observes his wife Nedda’s wandering eye and gives her a warning about flirting offstage – too late, as she already has a lover. Art imitates life in the playlet they present, including a lover for the wife, and a plot to get rid of the husband. Canio breaks character as he rages at Nedda for being unfaithful. It all ends in tears (and blood). Leoncavallo’s beloved verismo melodrama provides an emotional night at the opera.

Warning: Clowns appear in this opera.