Straccio, a young acrobat, wants to free his beloved Julia, held prisoner in the tyrant's castle. He designs a good plan, and develops it with the help of his three friends, Pietro, Bitonto, and Gatto Mammone. When he thinks he achieved both his ends - overthrowing Fregonese from power, and winning Julia's love - he finds that his countrymen cupidity for the tyrant's gold is more difficult to deal with.

Straccio
Pietro
Gatto Mammone
Bitonto
Fregonese the Tyrant
Julia
Gastaldo the Eunuch Servant
Prior of the Monastery
Murieta
Koyo
Captain of the Guard
Mary