theater and videoed performances

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THE RAPE OF LUCRECE

video of a 16 minute COLD READING of a portion of William Shakespeare's long form poem

TWO CHARACTERS: the Narrator and Sextus Tarquinius (portrayed by one actor)  

Sextus Tarquinius (Tarquin) was the third and youngest son of the last king of Rome, Lucius Tarquiinius Superbus. According to Roman tradition, Tarquin's rape of Lucrece, his best friend Collatinus' wife, and her subsequent suicide were the precipitating events in the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of the Roman Republic. 

The scene takes place in the darkened chambers and hallway leading to Lucrece's door.  Tarquin's head bleeds from brushing against a tree branch as he wildly raced on horseback from where the Romans were besieging Ardea, a city of the Rutulians.  

 Tarquin is torn by his lust for Lucrece. He finds himself wandering aimlessly about the chamber just down a darkened hallway from Lucrece's chambers. On one hand, there is his position as a military man who should not be the slave of his emotions; on the other hand is his overwhelming desires. He fears the consequences. His disgrace would never be forgotten, even after death.  

 At last, emotion conquers reason. As Tarquin makes his way down the darkened hallway to Lucrece’s chamber. Many petty annoyances deter him. The locks on the doors have to be forced, the threshold beneath the door grates under his footstep, the wind threatens to blow out his torch, and he pricks his finger on a needle. Tarquin ignores these omens of disaster. In fact, he misconstrues them as forms of trial that only make his “prize” more worth winning.  

He eerily cracks the door to Lucrece’s bedroom.