Overview
- Female: 0
- Male: 2
Context
In Act 4 of Middleton and Rowley’s Jacobean tragedy The Changeling, Alsemero has recently married Beatrice, entirely unaware that she orchestrated the murder of her former fiancé Alonzo with the help of the noble family's servant, De Flores. Unknown to Alsemero, Beatrice has since been trapped in a dark, coercive sexual relationship with De Flores as payment for the crime. Meanwhile, Jasperino, Alsemero’s loyal friend, has been conducting his own courtship with Beatrice’s waiting-woman,
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ALSEMERO Jasperino,
I have news to tell thee, strange news.
JASPERINO I ha' some too,
I think as strange as yours; would I might keep
Mine, so my faith and friendship might be kept in't.
Faith, sir, dispense a little with my zeal,
And let it cool in this.
ALSEMERO This puts me on,
And blames thee for thy slowness.
JASPERINO All may prove nothing,
Only a friendly fear that leapt from me, sir.
ALSEMERO No question it may prove nothing; let's partake it, though.
JASPERINO 'Twas Diaphanta's chance--for to that wench
I pretend honest love, and she deserves it--
To leave me in a back part of the house,
A place we chose for private conference;
She was no sooner gone, but instantly
I heard your bride's voice in the next room to me
And, lending more attention, found Deflores
Louder then she.
ALSEMERO Deflores? Thou art out now.
JASPERINO You'll tell me more anon.
ALSEMERO Still I'll prevent thee:
The very sight of him is poison to her.
JASPERINO That made me stagger too, but Diaphanta
At her return confirm'd it.
ALSEMERO Diaphanta!
JASPERINO Then fell we both to listen, and words pass'd
Like those that challenge interest in a woman.
ALSEMERO Peace, quench thy zeal; 'tis dangerous to thy bosom
JASPERINO Then truth is full of peril.
ALSEMERO Such truths are.
Oh, were she the sole glory of the earth,
Had eyes that could shoot fire into kings' breasts,
And touch'd, she sleeps not here; yet I have time,
Though night be near, to be resolv'd hereof,
And prithee do not weigh me by my passions.
JASPERINO I never weigh'd friend so.
ALSEMERO Done charitably.
[Giving him a key] That key will lead thee to a pretty secret
By a Chaldean taught me, and I've [made]
My study upon some; bring from my closet
A glass inscrib'd there with the letter M,
And question not my purpose.
JASPERINO It shall be done, sir.
Thomas Middleton and William Rowley. The Changeling. http://www.tech.org/~cleary/change.html.
Performance Tips
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Grasp the Whistleblower Dynamic: Jasperino is torn between absolute loyalty to his master/friend and the dangerous truth he carries; the actor playing Jasperino should lean into physical hesitation and breath control to show how difficult it is to accuse the bride of a powerful man.
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Track Alsemero's Psychological Pivot: Alsemero begins with confident, almost playful banter ("Thou art out now") and must visibly fracture as the evidence mounts, shifting from smug denial to cold, desperate
Emotional Beat Breakdown
1. Reluctant Disclosures
- What shifts: The tone moves rapidly from comfortable, jovial camaraderie to uneasy apprehension as Jasperino resists sharing his unsettling news.
- Character objectives: Alsemero seeks to share his curiosity and prompt Jasperino to speak, while Jasperino attempts to shield his friend from a painful truth while preserving his own duty.
- Performance note: Keep the opening lines crisp and light so the sudden drop in vocal energy from Jasperino lands with immediate
Videos
Links
Full text of The Changeling: http://www.tech.org/~cleary/change.html
Wikipedia entry on The Changeling: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TheChangeling(play)
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