Veronica Franco, poet and courtesan, lived in a world dominated by masculinity and religion. The conventions of sixteenth century Venice limited women's options in life, and each option carried with it its own set of restrictions. Most women were passed straight from the control of their fathers to that of their husbands, and those who could not afford a dowry often became nuns. Only one role, that of a courtesan , a member of a special class of high society prostitutes, granted women entrance to libraries, and to artistic and intellectual circles. By choosing this third path in life, Veronica Franco enjoyed freedoms denied to other women. Renowned as much for her wit and intellect as for the other qualities necessary in her profession, Veronica mingled with the upper echelons of Venetian society, and was able to publish her poetry.

The play, Veronica, meretrice e scrittora, by Italian author Dacia Maraini, begins in a lazzaretto, a hospital for plague victims. WhileVenice is ravaged by the plague, Veronica, who has lost all her money, is suffering from a high fever and being tended by Anzola, a nun. In a series of dreams and flashbacks, we see Veronica as she was before her illness.We learn of her household, and her turbulent relationships with the men in her life, and we witness to the events leading up to her illness.

Act One

Veronica is in the lazzaretto, on the left side of the stage, delirious from high fever while dreaming of her husband, who left her taking all her money with him. Then, on the right side of the stage, we see her in another moment of her life with her lover, Marco Venier, when he tells her that the king of France will pay her a visit. After the king's visit, the tutor of her children decides to denounce her to the Holy Inquisition because she refuses his advances. Veronica is able to avoid conviction thanks to her own defense in front of the Monsignor. All the story is fragmented by scenes at the lazzaretto where Veronica comments on her life in retrospective.

Act Two

The second act begins in the lazzaretto too, but quickly the story moves back to Veronica's past. We witness a scene between her and Marco Venier, perhaps one of the few lovers she truly loved, and father of one of her sons. A scene follows in which Senator Domenico Venier, Veronica's mentor, and poet Maffio Venier visit Veronica. When the plague begins, Veronica is urged by Marco to leave Venice and move to his house in the countryside. There, Veronica receives a visit from Marrio and then Domenico. After a period of isolation from Venice, Veronica decides to go back for a couple of days to visit Marco, who, meanwhile, has taken ill. He dies right after Veronica's visit. At the end of the play Veronica, in the lazzaretto, now cured but having lost her riches, decides to start a new life begging for money with her new friend Anzola, the nun who took care of her during her illness.

Cast

Veronica Franco
(Lazzaretto)

Anzola
(Nun)

Domenico Venier
(Senator)

Paolo Panizza
(Husband)

Veronica Franco
(Home)

Gaspara Greghetta
(Maid)

Marco Venier
(Veronica's lover)

Enrico III (King of France);
Monsignore (Inquisition)

Maffio Venier
(Poet of the people)

Ridolfo Vannitelli
(Tutor)

Crew

Lights
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Costumes
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Music
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Scenography
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Audio Recording

Publicity

Program Design

Special Thanks to...

Douglas Biow and Irene Eibenstein-Alvisi, for their lectures on the Renaissance

Claire Marchionne and Chiara (Heather Butler), for their input on acting

Irene Eibenstein-Alvisi and Riccardo Caselli, for their supervision on Venetian dialect

Dina Sherzer, Elizabeth Barret, Marco Fregoso, Shawna Lucey, Laura Catania, Aileen Fong, Dina Kagan