The Place: The section of New York known as Little Italy
The Time: Middle twentieth century

ACT I

Scene 1 – A cold-water flat on Bleecker Street. Good Friday afternoon.
A group of neighbors has gathered, waiting for Annina to repeat her visions. Although some express incredulity, most of them are convinced that she truly relives the passion of Christ and that she can perform miracles, healing the lame and the blind. Don Marco, the priest, admonishes the crowd to be gentle with Annina. Semi-conscious, Annina is carried into the room and immediately narrates her vision of the Crucifixion. Her hands open as she faints, revealing the bleeding stigmata. The crowd jostles her hysterically, trying to touch her hands. Michele, Annina’s brother, bursts into the room and throws the crowd out. He accuses Don Marco of exploiting the hallucinations of a sick child.

Scene 2 – A vacant lot on Mulberry Street. The following September.
Annina and her friends are sitting in the empty lot. It is the Feast Day of San Gennaro. Carmela confides to Annina that she is to be married. Annina shares her vision of heaven with Carmela and Assunta. Maria Corona runs in, warning that the Sons of San Gennaro want to carry Annina at the head of their procession, taking her by force, if necessary. The ladies leave when Michele enters. He tries to persuade Annina that her visions are the delusions of a sick mind, but her faith is unshakable. As the procession is heard approaching, a group of young men enter, tie up Michele and carry Annina, frightened and helpless, to the waiting crowd. Michele curses them. The procession moves on, and as the last stragglers vanish, Desideria, Michele’s lover, enters and unbinds him.

ACT II
An Italian restaurant. The following May.
At a wedding party for Carmela and Salvatore, Annina offers the happy couple her blessing. As the party moves to the banquet room, Desideria, uninvited, enters and demands to speak to Michele. She begs him to prove his love for her by taking her to the party, to forget his obsession with his sister. When Michele attempts to take her in, he is stopped by Don Marco and the guests. He comments contemptuously upon his people, afraid to admit they are Italian but not accepted as Americans. As the party breaks up, Desideria suddenly accuses Michele of being in love with his sister rather than with her. Enraged by the accusation, Michele stabs Desideria and runs from the restaurant. Comforted by Annina’s prayers, Desideria dies in her arms.

ACT III
Scene 1 – A subway station. A few months later.
Don Marco has arranged a rendezvous between the fugitive Michele and the now desperately ill Annina. They meet but cannot communicate. Annina tells Michele she intends to take the veil before she dies. He begs her not to, but when she bids him farewell, he curses her and runs off.

Scene 2 – The cold-water flat. A week later.
The dying Annina, surrounded by the neighbors, waits anxiously for permission to take the veil. When Don Marco reveals that permission has been granted, Annina prepares herself for the ceremony. During the ritual, Michele bursts into the room, appealing to Annina’s love for him. She can no longer hear him. As Don Marco places the ring of faith upon her finger, Annina sinks soundlessly, ecstatically, to the floor, dead.

– Christopher Keene
Taken from the original liner notes for LM-6032