Barbarian Prince in Venice

The Barbarian Princes

Venice

At the end of XVIIe century.
Venice, heady and mysterious. Indolent and capricious.
So beautiful.
Venice, a glorious past but an incertain futur.
Turks and Austrians harass the Empire Marches, fight for possessions and commercial roads.
Russia is a future power and Tsar has appointed Prince Sergueï Morozov to conclude a political and commercial alliance.
The treaty is slowly built from official interviews to unofficial discussions.
Prince is always seen like a curious stranger, a boorish barbarian, but little by little, Venice opens her doors to him.
He is now received in that palaces they mirror in Gran Canale, those palazzi where the great venetian familys like to display themselves.
Characters :
Dona Eleonora Ziani
A rich and beautiful patrician, a widow. Her free life, her austrian origin (her mother), her immense fortune are the seeds of a germinating plot.

Prince Sergueï Morozov
He has the complete Tsar trust to carry the treaty to a successful conclusion. Like many russian nobles, he is looking at Occident. He is an enlightened man. But in St-Petersburg, a town with many canals too, womens know the secret pleasure of being freely enslaved by his Master desires.

Signor Fradentelli.
He is the Doge secretary and condidant. He is a powerfull and influential man in Venice. His cupidity is equalled only by his political distance. Venice is his single Mistress. If a thing is good for me, he says, the thing is good for the Republic.

Maestro Giaccomo aka "la pancia" (the belly).
Doges prison Master Executionner. Where he lives permanently. People say that this obese person, sweating cruelty, is a master in the art of pain and that he can drag a confession out of any innocent.

And Paolo, his assistant, a red hair dwarf.

Agnès

Venice
At the end of XVIIe century. Venice, heady and mysterious. Indolent and capricious. So beautiful. Venice, a glorious past but an incertain futur. Turks and Austrians harass the Empire Marches, fight for possessions and commercial roads. Russia is a future power and Tsar has appointed Prince Sergueï Morozov to conclude a political and commercial alliance. The treaty is slowly built from official interviews to unofficial discussions. Prince is always seen like a curious stranger, a boorish barbarian, but little by little, Venice opens her doors to him. He is now received in that palaces they mirror in Gran Canale, those palazzi where the great venetian familys like to display themselves. Characters : Dona Eleonora Ziani A rich and beautiful patrician, a widow. Her free life, her austrian origin (her mother), her immense fortune are the seeds of a germinating plot. Prince Sergueï Morozov He has the complete Tsar trust to carry the treaty to a successful conclusion. Like many russian nobles, he is looking at Occident. He is an enlightened man. But in St-Petersburg, a town with many canals too, womens know the secret pleasure of being freely enslaved by his Master desires. Signor Fradentelli. He is the Doge secretary and condidant. He is a powerfull and influential man in Venice. His cupidity is equalled only by his political distance. Venice is his single Mistress. If a thing is good for me, he says, the thing is good for the Republic. Maestro Giaccomo aka "la pancia" (the belly). Doges prison Master Executionner. Where he lives permanently. People say that this obese person, sweating cruelty, is a master in the art of pain and that he can drag a confession out of any innocent. And Paolo, his assistant, a red hair dwarf. Agnès

Act I

Act II

Act III

Act I --- Meeting and Learning

Act 1, scene 1.

Dona Ziani's Palace. The masquerade where Prince Morozov has been invited.
He has joined his hostess on the balcony overlooking Gran Canale.
He presents a glass of Crimea wine to her.

ELEONORA (cheerful and ironic):
Is the wine from your country ? It seems rough, a bit common. Do some people say that Russian's favorite animal is bear ?

PRINCE:
Dona Ziani, in my country we like bears. It's a fact. For hunting them. Or for training them. They marvelously dance on the caress of whip.
We very like the women wearing collar and cuffs too. Like you're doing. apprécie également les femmes qui portent collier et bracelets tels que les vôtres. Though they are more crude.
These women can be serf from birth or women of quality who want a voluntarly servitude during some instants.
And well, grabbing a leash hanging to a lovely collared neck is pleasant.
Then bending her and kneeling her.

ELEONORA:
What an horror ! You're speaking about slavery !

PRINCE:
Perhaps Madam. But when slavery is consensual, it brings to you some sweet torments and rare pleasures.

ELEONORA (troubled):
You amused me, Prince, and intrigued.
May I implore you ? So I could be forgiven from my lack of politeness. Might you visit me soon ? You could speak about your strange traditions.

PRINCE:
I'll be glad to, Dona Ziani. Yhey tell I'm an excellent teacher. me dit excellent professeur. D'aucuns m'accordent même un maîtrise certaine.
Please, may I withdraw now ?

ELEONORA:
You have my permision. Come back to me soon.

PRINCE:
I promise. Have a good night, Dona Ziani.

ELEONORA (insisting on her first name):
Dona Eleonora Ziani. Good night Prince.

Act 1, scene 2.
Dona Ziani's Palace.. The entrance on Gran Canale.

ELEONORA:
Be welcome, Prince.
What is that big bag ? One more Crimea wine ?

PRINCE:
No, it's not, Dona Eleonora. There are some tools and instruments I use for the art I spoke about last evening. I like your irony. But I would like to punish that irony.

ELEONORA:
I'm very curious. And impatient. Give your bag to my servant. She'll bring it to my appartments where we'll have dinner.

PRINCE:
I thank you Madam. It will perfectly fit the lessons I want to give to you.

PRINCE:
The learning, the training, because we train serfs like we train a bear or a dog, is starting by obedience.

Take your clothes off. Remove all that laces and brocades.

ELEONORA:
Yes Prince. I will obey. But may I tell a petition ?

PRINCE:
I listen to you.

ELEONORA:
I beg you to do not be too hard with your pupil who is a novice.

PRINCE:
I heard you Eleonora. Now obey your Prince.
I order you to be naked in front of your Master.

ELEONORA:
I am like you asked. Must I remove my stockings ?

PRINCE:
No. Don't. Come. And knell down with your hand back. The colalr is for you. The cuffs too.

ELEONORA:
Yes Master.

PRINCE:
You're a good pupil. Do you feel the soft restraint of the collar ? It's a symbol.

Stand up now.

The crop can be a reward. Like now, while I caress your breast.

But it could be a punishment too.

This way.

Master must punish a slave when she makes a mistake.

ELEONORA:
I thank you Master for the knowledge you give to me.

PRINCE:
Slave Eleonora, because you were a good student, you deserve a reward .
I'm going to take you, like you are now: tied and spreaded.
See your Master pleasure.
I like to see you, open and offered for my virility.

(later)

ELEONORA (whispering):
I thank you my sweet Prince. You gave many pleasure to your slave. I thank you for teaching.

Interlude : Signor Fradentelli sign Eleonora arrest order.

Act I

Act II

Act III