These Violent Delights
THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS
by Jonathan Josephson
with apologies to William Shakespeare
Love knows no bounds, but it probably should...
City of Pasadena Arts Commission Award Winner
Other Awards/Recognitions:
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Top 10 Finalist 11th Scripts in Play Festiva, Avant Bard Theatre Finalist, 2026
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Vox Nova Playwright Festival, 3rd Place, 2025
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Frank Moffet Mosier Fellowship, Synecdoche Works Semi-Finalist, 2024
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Shakespeare's Contemporaries: Shakespeare Center Semi-Finalist, 2021
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Scranton Scratch Night Scranton Shakespeare Festival Shortlist, 2021
Staged Readings
Theatricus (2025), PlayGround Alumni Series (2023), Just Write, Lakeland (2021), Theatre West (2019), Carrie Hamilton Theatre at Pasadena Playhouse (2019)
Synopsis
It's three days after the demise of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers; Verona is in mourning, Benvolio and Rosaline are heart-broken... but the two schemers have a plan. They've independently procured magical elixirs from Apothecary with hopes of bringing their beloveds back to life. But when they accidentally double-up their dosage, something goes wrong... horribly, deliciously wrong. Now it’s up to Friar Laurence, Juliet’s Nurse, Shylock of The Merchant of Venice, and Beatrice of Much Ado About Nothing, and a whole lot of Balthasars to right the world again
Characters
Even though most of these characters are described with specific ages and genders, in the grand Shakespearean tradition, they can be played by actors of any age or gender identity. Similarly, the ages are merely a starting point. Also, the play requires a minimum of 12 actors and should have an ensemble of at least 4-5 additional actors, but it can support a Zombie Horde of dozens.
Principles:
Juliet's NURSE of Romeo and Juliet (50/60s, F)
A bawdy servant, her pain has released her inhibitions.
Friar LAURENCE of Romeo and Juliet (50-70s, M)
A conceited man of the cloth, burying his pain.
SHYLOCK of The Merchant Of Venice (40s/50s, M)
A lapsed moneylender, reluctant convert to Christianity.
BEATRICE of Much ado About Nothing (20s/30s F)
An intelligent, headstrong woman - now living her truth.
Supporting Characters:
ROSALINE of Romeo and Juliet (14, F)
A passionate young woman, headstrong, love-struck.
BENVOLIO of Romeo and Juliet (16, M)
A determined young man, married by lustful.
ROMEO of Romeo and Juliet (16, M)
A dashing young man. Dead. Poisoned, it would seem.
JULIET of Romeo and Juliet (13, F)
A lovely young woman. Dead. Stabbed, it appears.
BALTHASAR(s) of Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, and Much Ado About Nothing (18, M)
A servant in the service of Friar Laurence, and/or Portia, and/or Don Pedro.
IAGO of Othello (29, M)
A jailed traitor; longs for death.
APOTHECARY of Romeo and Juliet (Any age, M)
An experimenter and schemer. Ultimately takes responsibility.
INNKEEPER (Any age, and gender)
Doubles as a bartender
TOUGHS #1 and #2 . (Any age, and gender)
Cockney roughnecks
JAILOR (Any age, M)
Recently deceased, big bellied man with the key.
Cameos
The BEAR of The Winter's Tale
A bear,
Tullus AUFIDIUS of Coriolanus
A Roman general.
Ensemble
THE HORDE (Any, All)
Countless Veronese citizens - recently turned undead.
Suggested Doubling
Inkeeper/Jailor
Tough #1/Apothecary
Tough #2/Iago/Bear
Balthasar(s)/Aufidius
