Act I, Scene iii
LOCATION: Annabella’s royal chambers.
Her bed is big and fluffy with silk curtains that are transparent and suspended from the ceiling, draped in waves around the bedposts. The floor is carpeted with exquisite velvet. Royal couches don both ends of the room.
SR, there is an opening that leads to the balcony.
The window blinds, which are long vertically and look of French design, are open, as indicated by their position facing the audience.
Annabella is seated CS with her caretaker, Putana, who can be seen brushing her hair. They direct their gaze toward the royal mirror, placed on the “fourth wall.”
So Many Suitors
PUTANA:
YOU HAVE SO MUCH TO CHOOSE FROM
MISTRESS
YOU’RE THE FAIREST ONE OF ALL
ITALY IS BLESSED TO HAVE YOU
PRINCESS
SO MANY SUITORS
ARE AT YOUR DOOR
AND YOU DON'T NEED TO ACT
LIKE A LITTLE WHORE!
I'M WONDERING IF YOU CONSIDERED
GRIMALDI
THEY SAY, HE DID VALIANT SERVICE IN THE WAR
BUT PRAY,
I ONLY THINK THAT HE IS OKAY
NOT THE BEST,
BUT HE'S A GOOD BACK-UP
AND WHAT ABOUT THE MAN THAT THEY CALL
SORANZO?
HE IS WISE AND RICH
AND SUPER KIND
HE'S A MAN I'D LIKE TO TAKE
IF IT WERE UP TO ME
AS GORGEOUS AS THE SEA
IS HIS BEAUTY
THERE ARE SO MANY GUYS
TO CHOOSE FROM
A DIME A DOZEN, MISTRESS,
MANY DO CAUSE RIVULSION
IN THEIR OWN AUTHENTIC WAY
MANY GUYS TO CHOOSE FROM
MANY WILL CAUSE YOU PAIN
BUT NOT THE KIND
THAT YOU EXPERIENCE
IN YOUR SOVEREIGN WAY
SO ALLOW ME TO RECOMMEND
SORANZO, HE'S A GENTLEMAN
I ADVISE YOU TAKE HIS HAND
BEFORE THE SHEEP
GOES WITH THE LAMB
TODAY
PRAY
THIS IS MY ADVICE
TODAY!
(To be continued...)