Sex work is traditionally regarded as the oldest career in the world. It has been around as early as the Medieval Era and has taken many forms throughout history. The Burning of A Sicilian Whore is a sensual and intriguing one woman show, based on Giulia Tofana. A woman in 17th Century Italy, who was a poisoner. Her roots in history are uncertain, but what we do know is that she took a stand for women who were being abused in any way, shape or form by their husbands. She created a special tonic that tasted and looked like water to the human eye, but those who consumed it died a slow, painful death. Once the abuser had been taken care of , Giulia helped the women escape to safety.
The Burning of a Sicilian WhoreDue to the fact that her roots are mysterious, it makes perfect sense why performer and writer Giulia Menichelli chose to make Giulia Tofana a Courtesan. During this particular period, if you were a Courtesan, you had more of a privilege to access the life that men generally led, especially if you were one of the most sought-after. Menichelli created a backstory for Tofana’s character that was extremely believable and engaging. One source of evidence we do know for this character is that there are indications she lived in Palermo, one of the most aristocratic territories at the time and as the city was being improved, the lifestyle became an interesting journey for those who were not as privileged.
Menichelli placed our Courtesan’s origins as someone who may well have been middle class, who would have been set up for an arranged marriage as she was growing up. When something horrible happened to her, she brought shame on the family, ran away and was then punished for doing so by her family. After that, she left again and became part of a house for Courtesans and learned her trade before setting up on her own. After that, we saw events lead to what we definitely know about her. Developing her deadly tonic, helping her sisters and others who were being abused, as well as possibly recruiting a team to help carry out this task. Where the burning comes into it, you will have to see it to find out what happened to her.
The main thing to note about this show is the length. For a one-woman show, 1 hour and 20 minutes is traditionally considered too long for a fringe show. However, I overheard a conversation with someone after the show saying that Menichelli had already shortened the play to this length, as it was originally 2 hours long. The fact that she had got it down to the length she had without losing any of the power or the sense behind it is an incredible feat and should be praised for this. A couple of suggestions going forward would be to either make this a show with an interval to break up the amount of detail shared, or, based on the amount of colourful characters beautifully portrayed here, would be to expand the project into say a four hander show to go into more detail about some of the more influential people in Tofana’s life, such as her brother, remaining younger sister and the love of her life who was a priest.
Menicelli as a performer was mesmerising. Her physical prowess on stage oozed sensuality and inner strength as she told Tofana’s tale. She had the right amount of intensity, drama and comedy to make it an experience that gently seduced you into her world and, in an honest way, shared the reality for women at the time, which was extremely unpleasant. Her writing also painted a beautiful setting that made you see all she saw, smelled the oranges that filled the air with a forbidden sweetness in her words and created a certain magic that only those who were invited into her world were allowed to see.
The Burning of a Sicilian Whore is dangerously beautiful, seductive and powerful and has potential to go even further than it currently is. It is to be experienced to be believed.
Sascha Cooper
Giulia Torfina and writer – Giulia Menichelli
In 17th century Sicily women are actioned off like objects, but Giulia Tofana is not like any other woman.
Giulia Tofana seizes her own sovereignty in her unique way.
Questioning what justice looks like, she becomes the louder, most revolutionary and provocative voice of that time.
In this tale, inspired by fact, we will embark upon the journey that leads a woman of humble origins from being a courtesan to becoming the most prolific serial killer of all time.