On Sunday, May 10 at 1:30 pm Eastern Time on Zoom, the Class of 1969 play reading group will present The Posthumous Trial of Giulia Tofana, a new one-woman play by Gwyneth Forsythe, daughter of classmate Eric Forsythe. The reading will be shared by Carol Dudley ‘69a, Nanalee Raphael ‘69a, Cindy Bittner, and Sue Abbott (spouse of David Abbott ’69).
Eric has previously been out guest for a Casual Conversation, and the announcement can be found here: Casual Conversation Sunday April 14th with Eric Forsythe '69 | Dartmouth Class of '69 . In it you will find a description of both his career in the performing arts, including teaching, directing, acting, and playwriting; and that of his late father, Henderson Forsythe, the premier interpreter in this country of the plays of Samuel Beckett.
And now to a third generation. This is from a review of her new play which just ended its run in Chicago:
Living from 1620 to 1659, Giulia Tofana (Sydney Genco) experienced firsthand the limitations placed
on women of her time. After witnessing her mother’s execution for poisoning an abusive husband,
Giulia’s story unfolds from Purgatory, where she invites the audience to reconsider her legacy.
In a society where women were treated as property and autonomy was nearly impossible, Giulia
uses her skills as an apothecary to create Aqua Tofana, a poison disguised as perfume. Sold to
women seeking escape from abusive marriages, it becomes both a tool of survival and a symbol
of desperation. Forsythe blends fact and legend seamlessly, crafting a narrative that feels both
historical and urgently contemporary.
That is a description of the play. Here is the review’s discussion of Ms. Forsythe’s artistry as the playwright:
Coming into the production with little prior knowledge of Giulia Tofana or Larkspur Productions, I was struck by the depth and care of Forsythe’s work. She succeeds in bridging past and present, challenging audiences to reconsider who history labels as villains and why. The Posthumous Trial of Giulia Tofana is not just a retelling—it is a reclamation, giving voice and dimension to a woman long defined by myth. It is a compelling and resonant piece inviting reflection well beyond the stage.
The play itself is fairly short, running approximately 40 minutes. I encourage all of you to attend and stay afterwards to discuss the work.
In addition, we will discuss the past and future of the playreading group: what has worked and what we might try as we go forward. I encourage any of you with even the slightest interest inn the stage to stick around and participate in this discussion. We have had some surprising discoveries, including the recently readThe Dutch Courtesan, a City Comedy from the early 1600s. And more modern plays, including Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia. Of course, we have even read one of Eric Forsythe’s translation/adaptations, and it was terrific. Time now for the next generation of this playwright family to grace our virtual stage.
Please let me know by close of business on Friday, May 8 if you wish to join us.
Arthur Fergenson
Date
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Location
Online
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