Valentino: a play in verse

By David Wisehart

CHARACTERS

VALENTINO    Duke of Romagna, 26.
NICCOLÒ MACHIAVELLI    Florentine diplomat, 32.
LEONARDO DA VINCI    Military engineer, 50.
LUCREZIA BORGIA    Valentino’s sister, 22.
POPE ALEXANDER VI    Valentino’s father, 72.
MICHELOTTO    Valentino’s lieutenant, 40s.
VITELLOZZO VITELLI    Lord of Castello, 30s.
RAMIRO DE LORQUA    Governor of Romagna, 50s.
CARDINAL ORSINI    Archbishop of Taranto, 60s.
FRANCESCO ORSINI    Duke of Gravina, 20s.
PAOLO ORSINI    Lord of Palombara, 50s.
SOLDIERS

SETTING

Italy, 1502.

A unit set representing various Italian Renaissance courts.  A throne, a side table, chairs, etc.  Act Two, Scene 1 calls for a bed.  This may be reduced to a divan, or something equally suited to the action.

SCENES

Act One

Scene 1    Palace of Urbino.  (June, 1502.)
Scene 2    Palace of Urbino.  (Days later.)
Scene 3    Orsini Palace, in Magione.  (September.)
Scene 4    Leonardo’s Workshop, in Imola.  (Same day.)
Scene 5    Palace of Ferrara.  (Days later.)
Scene 6    Palace of Imola.  (Next day.)

Act Two

Scene 1    Palace of Ferrara.  (Next day.)
Scene 2    Palace of Imola.  (Next day.)
Scene 3    Palace of Imola.  (November.)
Scene 4    Papagallo Hall, the Vatican.  (Days later.)
Scene 5    Palace of Urbino.  (Days later.)
Scene 6    Palace of Cesena.  (Christmas Eve.)
Scene 7    Palace of Cesena.  (Christmas Day.)
Scene 8    Palace of Senigallia and Castel Sant’Angelo, Rome.  (New Year’s Eve.)

THE LANGUAGE

The play is written in ottava rima, a verse form popular during the Italian Renaissance.

See Valentino: a play in verse the Hollywood Fringe Festival.