Overview
Synopsis
The Charenton Asylum houses one of France’s most notorious criminals, locked away for his acts of sexual cruelty and sadomasochistic pornography. The new Chief Physician, Doctor Royer-Collard, is determined to tighten his grip on the asylum and the infamous Marquis de Sade is at the top of his list. Renee Palgie, the Marquis’ wife is also furious that her husband is still penning licentious stories which are being smuggled out and continuing to scandalize society. Royer-Collard forces the asylum’s minister, the Abbe de Coulmier, to adopt increasingly violent ways of restraining the wily Marquis. After his paper and quills are confiscated, the ever-resourceful Marquis pens his stories on his bedclothes first in wine, then blood, and finally much worse. Torn between the demands of Royer-Collard and the Marquis’ machinations, the Abbe strips both the Marquis and his cell. However, nothing will stop the Marquis and he takes to whispering his stories from lunatic to lunatic, until young seamstress Madeleine can write them down. But Madeleine’s actions seal her fate as the final madman in whose cell Madeleine waits, brutally mutilates and kills the young woman. With the inmates rioting and few options left, the Abbe is driven to removing the Marquis’ hands, feet, genitals, and, finally, his head. Such actions send the Abbe down his own path to madness and the now murderous and deviant minister becomes the next inmate of the asylum. However, has he truly silenced the Marquis?
Show Information
- Book
- Doug Wright
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Mature Audiences (M)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1994
- Genres
- Horror, Drama
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- The Charenton Asylum, France, 1807
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- Josef Weinberger Ltd
- Ideal For
- Mature Audiences, Mostly Male Cast, Regional Theatre, Professional Theatre, Includes Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
An institution for the care of people who are mentally ill.
A nobleman ranking above a count and below a duke in some European countries.
Enjoyment from the infliction of physical pain or humiliation either on another person or on oneself.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher