LET ME COUNT THE WAYS A Sexpionage Play On The Birth Of Modern Pornography by Martín Zimmerman Di Glazer Theater ICM® 730 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10019 (212) 556-6820 (o) (516) 840-4681 (c)
[email protected] Let Me Count The Ways 1/12/15 CHARACTERS Pope CLEMENT VII, mid 40s. The second Medici pope. Also known as Guilio d’Medici. Gian Matteo GIBERTI, early 30s. Close confidant and advisor to the Clement. Also, Bishop of Verona. FRANCESCA, early 30s. A Roman courtesan. Pietro ARETINO, early 30s. Writer, satirist, libertine, one man rumor-mill, and close friend of Clement. Marcantonio RAIMONDI, early 30s. Renowned Roman engraver. NICCOLO, 20s. A young priest. Also plays various unattributed roles. *In terms of ethnicity, casting should be flexible, but not blind. *In terms of gender, casting can be flexible, but under no circumstances should a man play Francesca. HOW TO READ THIS SCRIPT 1) Large bolded text should appear projected on the scrim in lettering reminiscent of early-sixteenth-century typeface. Garamond? 2) Stage directions in SMALL CAPS indicate sounds that are to be produced live. 3) Stage directions that are bolded and underlined indicate heightened movement. A NOTE ON STYLE These characters love to play with language. They often delight in their own dexterity with the spoken (and written) word. But they were forced to very carefully hone their wit because their very survival depended on it. The playfulness is often moored by those incredibly high stakes. Special thanks to the 2013 Literary Office Staff of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Playwrights Conference whose research support was immensely helpful in the writing of this play.