Act 1, Scene 1 Summary

This play takes place in a village somewhere on the Gulf coast between New Orleans and Mobile. It is populated mostly with Sicilians. The first scene is evening and the stage is set with a cottage in need of some repair. The semi tropical location includes palm trees and pampas grass. The interior of the cottage is a bit gaudy with many religious articles and pictures; rose wallpaper and a rose carpet; everything is bright and overdone. There is a sign in the window that says "Sewing" and there are dressmaker's dummies inside the house.

As the scene opens, Serafina Delle Rose is sitting on the sofa waiting for her husband Rosario's return. She is a little plump and stuffed into her silk dress and she is wearing much jewelry. Her daughter, Rosa Delle Rose appears and tells her mother that...