Amadeus

Since the play has been famously criticized for inventing history, the Venticelli serve as a representation of this revisionism as the voices of public gossip. As the play’s narrator, Salieri tells his own version of history. Through his perspective, certain people, such as his wife and Katherina Cavalieri, are mute and have no voice. Others, such as Mozart and Constanze, are exaggeratedly obnoxious. The Venticelli step in to temper and refute Salieri’s account. They seem to have complete access to the entire story, and they disseminate speculation and public understanding of the events. At the end of the play, when Salieri attempts suicide, they Venticelli take over the story, telling the audience that not only was Salieri’s suicide unsuccessful but so was his attempt to take credit for Mozart’s death.

Structurally, the play mimics the drama of opera, and the Venticelli serve as the chorus. The job of the chorus is both to participate as actors in the telling of the story and to stand back and comment on the action. They inform the audience, but also stand in for the voice of an informed audience onstage.