To put it plainly, it's Romeo and Juliet meets Brother–Sister Incest.
It's set in Italy because it's about sex and emotions. Two young lovers are in a Secret Relationship. The boy has a friar as confidant; the girl has a saucy nurse. It all ends in tragedy.
Here though, the two forbidden young lovers—Giovanni and Annabella—are brother and sister, and the play explores the social ramifications of incest. Several sub-plots (not Shakespeare's) are woven into the story that involve Anabella's other suitors, an assassination attempt, and an unexpected return from the dead.
Trendsetter of one pattern in The Joy of X fun: 'Tis Pity She's a(n) X is ever so popular as it creates very memorable and hilarious titles.
If you want to see it, there's a BBC radioplay staring Jessie Buckley and Damien Molony available here
.
This play provides examples of:
- Abhorrent Admirer: Bergetto, an idiot who believes that a traveler really owns a horse with a head where its tail should be and compliments Annabella by saying that he likes her almost as much as he likes parmesan cheese. Sometimes portrayed with Ambiguously Gay mannerisms. Contrary to the trope, however, he isn't actually interested in Annabella, only courting her at his uncle's insistence.
- Anguished Declaration of Love: And how. Giovanni is understandably a bit nervous about confessing his love to his own sister. He goes so far as to take out his dagger and offer it to Annabella, asking her to either return his love or kill him. After initially seeming surprised and disturbed, she declares that she was already in love with him, too.
- Anyone Can Die: In this story, nobody goes safe. That's partly because the cast features several murderous characters, and partly because only some of them manage to avoid accidentally murdering the wrong person by pure incompetence.
- Ax-Crazy: Giovanni in the final scene.
- Brother–Sister Incest: Giovanni/Annabella—the main plot of the show.
- Darker and Edgier: 'Tis Pity is commonly described as "like Romeo and Juliet... but they're brother and sister." Jacobean tragedy, as a whole, tended toward bucketloads of murder, rape, torture, insanity, and—yes—incest, as playwrights tried to shock audiences who were increasingly used to disturbing themes on stage. See The Duchess of Malfi and other plays.
- A Deadly Affair: Their relationship and its fallout leaves most of the major characters dead.
- Dirty Old Woman: Putana—yes, it's a Meaningful Name.
- Eye Scream: Poor Putana.
- Rambunctious Italian: Like Romeo and Juliet, it's set in Italy because it's about emotions and sex.
- Karma Houdini: Grimaldi is let off completely scot-free for the murder of Bergetto. Lampshaded.Is this a churchman's voice? Dwells justice here?
- Literal-Minded: Soranzo says he's heartsick in love. Annabella calls for medical help.Soranzo: I'm sick, and sick to th' heart.
Annabella: Help, aqua vitae.
Soranzo: What mean you?
Annabella: Why, I thought you had been sick.
Soranzo: Do you mock my love? - Love Dodecahedron: Richardetto is married to Hippolita, who's in love with Soranzo, who's only interested in Annabella now, who's got a thing with Giovanni.
- Love Is Like Religion: Near the beginning, Giovanni angstily monologues:Giovanni: O that it were not in religion sin
To make our love a god, and worship it - Metaphorical Marriage: Giovanni and Annabella get down on their knees, exchange reciprocal vows, share a kiss, then rise and go consummate their union.
- Mood Whiplash: From comedic to tragic when Bergetto is murdered by Grimaldi.
- Nature Adores a Virgin: Discussed by Giovanni, who snarkily questions why a woman's virginity is so prized after Their First Time with Annabella. The sexual Double Standard is something of a continuous undercurrent in the show. Ford seems to be aware of the irony that Hippolita and Annabella are branded whores for engaging in extra-marital sex while their male lovers are never taken to task.Giovanni: I marvel why the chaster of your sex
Should think this pretty toy called maidenhead,
So strange a loss, when being lost, 'tis nothing,
And you are still the same. - Servile Snarker: Vasques, particularly in the second half of the show.
- Title Drop: The final verse of the play.Cardinal: Of one so young, so rich in nature's store
Who could not say, 'tis pity she's a whore? - Woman Scorned: Hippolita recruits Vasques to help her get bloody revenge on Soranzo at his wedding to Annabella, only to be Hoist by Her Own Petard courtesy of Vasques's backstabbing. She delivers a chilling curse in her dying words.
- You Can't Fight Fate: An opinion repeatedly expressed by Annabella and Giovanni, among others.Giovanni: Tis not, I know, my lust, but ’tis my fate, that leads me on.
