While
visiting his old school-friend, Prince Amadeo, in Palermo,
Valmond falls in love with Amadeo’s sister, Princess Katrina, and
she with him, though neither of them is able to declare that
love to the other.
Valmond must
return to Burgundy to oversee his governance. Cosimo, the
Prince of Naples, and his forces arrive in Sicily to demand from
King Lucentio a long-delayed payment of tribute to the King of
Naples.
After the
Sicilians refuse payment, they go to war with the forces of
Naples. Amadeo leads the Sicilian forces, but is betrayed by
his Uncle Morelli and killed. Having conquered Sicily, Cosimo
tries to force Katrina to marry him, but she resists. King
Lucentio dies of a lingering illness. Cosimo appoints Morelli
as his deputy and departs Sicily. Katrina, her mother,
Adrianna, her cousin Lucinda, and Amadeo’s wife escape to
Syracuse.
When he hears
news of all that has happened, Valmond vows revenge and sails to
Syracuse with his own army to join forces with the Sicilians.
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SICILIANS |
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Katrina |
Princess of
Sicily |
| |
Amadeo |
Prince of
Sicily |
| |
Lucentio |
King of
Sicily, father of Amadeo and Katrina |
| |
Adrianna |
Queen of
Sicily, mother of Amadeo and Katrina |
| |
Camillo |
Duke of
Syracuse |
| |
Morelli |
Duke of
Messina |
| |
Sophia |
Wife of Amadeo |
| |
Lucinda |
Daughter of
Morelli, companion of Katrina |
| |
Duchess |
Wife of
Morelli |
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First Lord |
|
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Second Lord |
|
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Perfumo |
Soldier |
| |
Rinaldo |
Soldier |
| |
Mistress
Closet |
Proprietor of
a tavern in Palermo |
| |
Ladies,
Attendants, Messengers, Captains, Townspeople |
| |
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BURGUNDIANS |
|
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Valmond |
Duke of
Burgundy |
| |
Beauchance |
Count of
Provence, his companion, suitor of Lucinda |
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Monsieur Musik |
Frenchman in
service to Valmond |
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Pierre |
Soldier and
companion of Musik |
| |
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NEAPOLITANS |
|
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Cosimo |
Prince of
Naples |
| |
Tertius |
Lord and
counselor to Cosimo |
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Cambio |
Prince's
underling and instrument |
| |
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Soldiers of
Sicily, Burgundy, and Naples; royal attendants |
| |
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SETTING |
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Sicily and Burgundy |
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Excerpts from What's the
Matter?
ACT I, Scene 1
ACT I, Scene 2
ACT II, Scene 1
Buy
the paperback edition of What's the Matter?
An e-book edition of What's the Matter?
is available at
 .
Theatrical
companies interested in a free abridged version of What's the
Matter? in standard script format should email
at info (at) shakespeare-publications.com.
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