The Broken Heart stands next to ‘Tis Pity She's a Whore as Ford's most popular drama. All is not right in Sparta because of, as is typical in this era of tragedies, the issue of marriage. In brief, Penthea wishes to marry Orgilus, but her brother Ithocles gets involved and bans them from doing so. He forces her to marry Bassanes, an abusive brute who happens to be wealthier than Orgilus. Ithocles then realises what he's done wrong and tries to get his friend Prophilus to marry Orgilus's sister Euphrania. Ithocles himself wants to marry the princess of Sparta, Calantha, who chooses him over her current betrothed, her cousin Nearchus. Thus begins a shocking cycle of revenge and recrimination... with predictably grisly consequences. (Charlotte Duckett & ChuckW)
Cast list:
Amyclas, King of Laconis: davidpr
Ithocles, a Favourite: Stuart Partin
Orgilus, Son of Crotolon: Tomas Peter
Bassanes, a jealous Nobleman: Hamlet
Armostes, a Counsellor of the State: Mike Harris
Crotolon, another Counsellor: Khaghbboommm
Prophilus, Friend of Ithocles: LindaB
Nearchus, Prince of Argos: alanmapstone
Tecnicus, a Philosopher: tovarisch
Hemophil, a Courtier: Anna Simon
Amelus, friend to Nearchus: ToddHW
Phulas, Servant to Bassanes: David Purdy
Calantha, Daughter of Amyclas: Sonia
Penthea, Sister of Ithocles and Wife of Bassanes: Charlotte Duckett
Euphranea, Daughter of Crotolon, a Maid of honour: KHand
Christalla, a Maid of honour: sawasawaya
Grausis, Overseer of Penthea: Availle
Groneas, a Courtier: K. Adrian Stroet
First Servant: Availle
Philema, a Maid of honour: Leanne Yau
Stage Directions: Chuck Williamson
Editor: Chuck Williamson
Chapters
From LibriVox, read by volunteers and in the public domain. LibriVox page (opens librivox.org), the text (opens ebooks.adelaide.edu.au), all files on the Internet Archive (opens archive.org).