Feignd Curtizans by Aphra Behn title page

''The Feign'd Curtizans, or, A Nights Intrigue'' is a 1679 comedic stage play by the English author

Aphra Behn Aphra Behn (; bapt. 14 December 1640 – 16 April 1689) was an English playwright, poet, prose writer and translator from the Restoration era. As one of the first English women to earn her living by her writing, she broke cultural barrie ...

. Behn dedicated the play, originally performed at the

Duke's Company The Duke's Company was a theatre company chartered by King Charles II at the start of the Restoration era, 1660. Sir William Davenant was manager of the company under the patronage of Prince James, Duke of York. During hats period, theatres b ...

in London, to the well-known actress and mistress of King Charles II,

Nell Gwyn Eleanor Gwyn (2 February 1650 – 14 November 1687; also spelled ''Gwynn'', ''Gwynne'') was a celebrity figure of the Restoration period. Praised by Samuel Pepys for her comic performances as one of the first actresses on the English stag ...

Historical Context

Set in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus ( legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, ''The Feign’d Curtizans'' was written and performed after the advent of the

Popish Plot The Popish Plot was a fictitious conspiracy invented by Titus Oates that between 1678 and 1681 gripped the Kingdoms of England and Scotland in anti-Catholic hysteria. Oates alleged that there was an extensive Catholic conspiracy to assassinate ...

. The play is sympathetic to

Catholicism The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

during a time when declaring one's

Protestant Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...

beliefs was “politically expedient”. Behn uses the English characters of Sir Signall Buffoon and Mr. Tickletext to satirize their nationalism and fear of Italian “Popery,” while portraying several Italian characters of quality as honorable and virtuous. Behn “emphasizes that, while Whiggish middle-class patriots are to be derided, upper-class good taste is international”.

Characters

Italians

*MORSINI, An Old Count Uncle to Julio *JULIO, His nephew, a young Count, contracted to Laura Lucretia *OCTAVIO, A young Count contracted to Marcella, deformed and revengeful *CRAPINE, Morsini's man *PETRO, Supposed pimp to the two courtesans

Englishmen

*SIR HARRY FILLAMOUR – In love with Marcella *MR. GALLIARD – In love with Cornelia *SIR SIGNALL BUFFOON – A fool *MR. TICKLETEXT – His governor *JACK – Sir Signall's man

Women

*LAURA LUCRETIA – A young lady of quality, contracted to Julio, in love with Galliard, and sister to Octavio *MARCELLA and CORNELIA – Sisters to Julio, and nieces to Morsini, pass for courtesans, by the names of Euphemia and Silvianetta *PHILLIPA – Their woman *SABINA – Confidant to Laura Lucretia

Original Cast

* Mr. Norris – Morsini * Mr. Crosby – Julio * Mr. Gilloe – Octavio and Crapine * Mr. Leigh – Petro * Mr. Smith – Sir Harry Fillamour * Mr. Betterton – Mr. Galliard * Mr. Nokes – Sir Signall Buffoon * Mr. Underhill – Mr. Tickletext and Jack * Mrs. Lee – Laura Lucretia * Mrs. Currer – Marcella * Mrs. Barry – Cornelia *Mrs. Norris – Phillipa *Mrs. Seymour – Sabina

Summary

The play centers around two virtuous sisters, Marcella and Cornelia. Marcella has been promised to Octavio for marriage, but has fallen in love with Sir Henry Fillamour. Cornelia is bound for the convent. They have run away to Rome together, posing as courtesans named Euphemia and Silvianetta, so that they may be free to control their own futures. When Fillamour and Galliard arrive in Rome, they notice the beautiful Marcella and Cornelia disguised as the courtesans Euphemia and Silvianetta. Galliard is taken by Silvianetta's beauty, and Fillamour is struck by Euphemia's resemblance to Marcella. He becomes conflicted, desiring to stay constant in his love for Marcella, but unable to resist Euphemia. Meanwhile, Laura Lucretia, the sister of Octavio (Marcella's betrothed), has fallen in love with Galliard. Knowing that he favors the courtesan named Silvianetta, Laura Lucretia disguises herself as Cornelia's alter ego so as to secure Galliard's affections. Having learned of Marcella's adoration for Fillamour, Octavio pledges revenge against him. To keep Fillamour safe, Marcella disguises herself as a pageboy and attempts to divert him from going to meet Euphemia at a place where Octavio and his men are lying in wait. In a comedic scene, Fillamour, Galliard, Signall, and Tickletext all stumble about in the dark trying to reach Silvianetta and Euphemia, but instead find themselves in a battle with Octavio and his supporters. During the same night, Laura Lucretia, dressed as Silvianetta, receives an oath of marriage from a man she believes to be Galliard, but is actually Julio. Once in the daylight, all parties confront each other and identities are revealed. Fillamour professes his love for Marcella, who agrees to marry him after Octavio renounces his claim. Galliard and Cornelia also become engaged. Julio, who had made an oath of marriage to “Silvianetta,” discovers he has actually sworn himself to his already bride-to-be, Laura Lucretia.

References

External links

Behn's dramatic response to Restoration politics by Susan J. Owen‘Pretty Contradictions’: the Virgin Prostitutes of Aphra Behn’s ''The Feigned Courtesans'' (1679) by Pilar Cuder Domínguez
{{DEFAULTSORT:Feign'd Curtizans Plays by Aphra Behn 1679 plays Restoration comedy Plays set in the 17th century