Tales of The Ten;
A play based on Boccaccio’s The Decameron
Written by Dan Zellner
Directed by Claire Proepper
Performing on February 11, 2025
Summary
As the Black Death ravages the city of Florence, a group of young people decide to leave the city and go to the country to avoid the plague and have fun (yes, it’s in the text – have fun!). Along with singing and dancing, they decide to set aside time to tell stories every day. The play covers the 10 days of storytelling, each done in the style of Commedia dell'Arte. These stories run the gamut from comedy to tragedy, and are based on Bocaccio's original works.
Character Descriptions
There are the 10 characters in the play, listed below along with the "meaning" of their name. Although these are the literal translations, they may not be a totally accurate description of the character - they might be more ironic! Each comes from a wealthy background, and is approximately 18-25 years old. Throughout the play, each will narrate a story while the others don Commedia masks and bring it to life. Therefore, actors are encouraged to have a background in storytelling or story theater.
LST will consider actors of all races and genders for any role, even where one is listed. For this reading, all characters will be doubled.
Pampinea, (F) "The blooming one". The oldest of the group, a born leader, courageous. Self-assured.
Fiammetta, (F) "The little flame". 2nd oldest. Clever, resourceful and independent. Very pragmatic.
Filomena, (F) "The beloved one" 3rd in age. Prudent and careful. Cautious.
Emilia, (F) "The alluring one". Self-obsessed. A rebel. A dancer. Full of contradictions.
Lauretta, (F) "Little laurel tree". Graceful. Believes in justice and balance. The voice of reason.
Neifile, (F) "The newly beloved". Shy. Favors authority and structure. Believes in duty, but very quick with a comeback.
Elissa. (F) Another name for Dido, the tragic, love-struck queen from Vergil's Aeneid. The youngest. Aristocratic. Speaks in a very direct manner. Forthright. Passionate.
Panfile, (M) "He who is made entirely of love." The optimist. Upbeat and happy but with strong beliefs.
Filostrato, (M) "He who is overcome by love." The pessimist . Disappointed in love. Analytical, critical, but has empathy for others.
Dioneo, (M) "Lustful". A rebel and a joker. Quick with a wisecrack. Does not like rules. Charming.
Background
This play uses the narrative frame of The Decameron to tell the stories in a Commedia style using masks. In the original, 10 stories are told every day, over the course of 10 days, for a total of 100 stories! Each day sees a new member of the "Brigata" (the name of the group of young people) be crowned “King” or “Queen”. This person then gives the others a theme for the stories that day. Each day ended with a song, and sometimes a dance. This adaptation will continue that tradition, though with pre-recorded music for the reading.
The Decameron has been the inspiration for numerous literary works, songs and plays, including a Broadway musical in the 1970s called "Boccacio", a 2011 play by Patrick Baliani at The Rogue Theatre, and a 2024 Netflix Adaptation.