'Tis Pity She's a Whore
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'Tis Pity She's A Whore was written by John Ford (exact date unknown) was originally performed between 1623 and 1631 and published in 1633. It was performed by The Queen's Men at the Cockpit private theatre.
The play is about an incestuous relationship between a brother and a sister, Giovanni and Annabella. The play is set in Parma, Italy and in typical Jacobean Tragedy style, most of the characters die at the end. Annabella's pregnancy is discovered after she is forced to marry one of her suitors, Soranzo. However he finds out about her pregnancy and when he learns, through the arts of his lying Spanish servant Vasques that the father is her brother, he vows to kill them both during a banquet that is being held for the wedding. Learning of Soranzo's plans, Giovanni pre-emptively kills Annabella and removes her heart. He presents the heart on the end of a dagger to Soranzo and goes on to confess his crimes. Vasques attacks Giovanni himself and then orders the Banditti to attack Giovanni. Before Giovanni, dies, he manages to deal Soranzo a fatal blow. Running along side this main story line are many sub plots, including adultery and deceit. John Ford explores the way in which the women are treated in this play, throughout the men take a dominant role. Also corrupt clergymen are attacked in the person of the greedy cardinal.
Characters
- In Parma (in Lombardy)
- * Signor Florio - A citizen of Parma
- * Annabella - Florio's daughter
- * Giovanni - Annabella's brother (pronounced with four syllables)
- * Putana - Annabella's servant
- * Friar Bonaventura - Giovanni's tutor and confessor
- * Vasques - Soranzo's Spanish servant
- * Poggio - Bergetto's servant
- * Hippolita - Soranzo's former paramour, wife of Richardetto
- * Richardetto - Believed to be dead, disguised as a physician
- * Philotis - Richardetto's niece and accomplice
- * Signor Donado - Bergetto's Uncle
- Annabella's Suitors
- * Grimaldi - A Roman soldier, Annabella's suitor
- * Bergetto - A foolish man, Annabella's suitor
- * Lord Soranzo - A Nobleman, Annabella's suitor
- Others
- * The Cardinal - the Pope's Nuncio
- * His Servant
- * Officers of the Watch
- * Ladies, Banditti, Attendants
The Death Count
- Bergetto - mistakenly stabbed by Grimaldi
- Hippolita - poisoned by Vasques
- Annabella - murdered by her brother, Giovanni
- Florio - possibly heart attack at finding out about Giovanni's crimes
- Soranzo - stabbed by Giovanni
- Giovanni - stabbed by Banditti
- Putana - ordered to be burnt at the stake by the Cardinal having had her eyes poked out at Vasques' orders (the text is slightly ambiguous and could refer to Annabella's body being burnt)
External links
- [CurtainUp Review of 'Tis Pity] - review of a modern performance of this play
- [Times Online Review] - another review of a modernized performance
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