Details

Antonio, son of the former Duke of Genoa, loves Mellida, daughter of the Duke of Venice, and disguises himself as an Amazon to get close to her. Antonio and Mellida is romantic comedy as mannerist fantasia - a whirl of cross-gender disguises, stoic endurance, courtly folly, false death and lovers who unexpectedly speak in Italian. Originally performed by a children's company, it also includes a fascinating prologue sequence in which the actors debate their roles and capabilities. 'What we shall be', says the Epilogue, 'rests all in your applausive encouragements'.

Creatives/Company

Author: John Marston (1599)