Summary
Act 1
Goodnight Desdemona opens with a "dumb show," a silent scene where three events happen at once. Othello murders Desdemona, Juliet commits suicide, and Constance Ledbelly tosses a pen and a manuscript into a trash bin.
In scene 1, Constance is working on her doctoral thesis, which argues that Romeo and Juliet and Othello were originally comedies penned by an anonymous writer. She believes this can be proven by decoding a manuscript authored by a physicist named Gustav. Her longtime infatuation, Professor Claude Night, enters, criticizes her thesis, and informs her that he has accepted a position at Oxford University, a job she had aspired to. Disheartened, Constance begins discarding her belongings into the trash bin until she is ultimately pulled in herself.
Act 2
The second act is set on the island of Cyprus, within the universe of Othello. During the scene where Othello decides to kill Desdemona, Constance steps in and exposes Iago's deceit. Othello restrains Iago and thanks Constance for her intervention. Desdemona arrives and inquires if Constance can stay with them. Othello requests Constance not to reveal to Desdemona his jealousy of his wife. Constance asks Desdemona for assistance in uncovering the true author of Shakespeare's plays. Desdemona agrees and invites her to join the battle. Constance ponders whether she has irreversibly altered Shakespeare's work and resolves to find the "Wise Fool," a classic Shakespearean character who ensures the comedic happy ending.
In scene 2, Iago reveals that he possesses a page from the Gustav manuscript and devises a plan to conspire against Constance. Constance grows closer to Desdemona, sharing stories about her relationship with Professor Night, as Iago listens in secret. Constance talks about the academic world and her emerging feminist beliefs. Desdemona encounters Iago carrying buckets of filth, and Iago manipulates her into feeling jealousy. He convinces Desdemona that Constance is a witch intent on winning Othello's love, leading Desdemona to decide to kill her.
Desdemona witnesses Othello gifting Constance a necklace, heightening her suspicions. Constance reflects on Desdemona's strength as a woman. Iago and Desdemona enter, engaged in a sword fight, and Constance nearly kills Iago, believing she is saving Desdemona. Iago shows Desdemona a page from the Gustav manuscript, claiming he found it in her underwear drawer. Desdemona presents it to Constance, who confirms it is hers. She reads the clue indicating she must seek the truth in Verona, Italy. Before Desdemona can act on her jealousy, Constance is pulled offstage.
Act 3
Act 3 unfolds in the setting of Romeo and Juliet. It opens with the scene where Mercutio and Tybalt engage in a duel. Constance intervenes by tackling Romeo to the ground just before Tybalt can wound Mercutio under Romeo's arm. Mistaking her gender due to Desdemona tearing off Constance's skirt, Romeo says, "Speak, boy." Constance, now calling herself Constantine, explains that they should cease fighting since Romeo has married Juliet, making them all family. They agree, and Romeo falls for Constance. The men exchange bawdy jokes and head to the bathhouses. Constance longs to return home.
In scene 2, Romeo and Juliet wake up together, expressing their waning interest in each other. They argue over their turtle, Hector, eventually tearing it in half, and part on bitter terms. Juliet laments to her nurse about her boredom and wishes to be unmarried so she can engage in the adventurous game of love. The nurse advises her to cheer up, reminding her of the marriage celebrations that night, prompting Juliet to decide to seek another lover.
In scene 3, Constance mistakenly pounces on a servant, thinking he is...
(This entire section contains 1119 words.)
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the Wise Fool, only to discover he is distributing invitations to a masked ball hosted by Juliet's father. In scene 4, Romeo and Juliet attend the masked ball, sulking at each other. Romeo mistakes Tybalt for Constance and touches Tybalt's bottom. When Constance arrives, Romeo professes his love for her. Tybalt witnesses Romeo kissing Constance and sends Juliet to intervene. Romeo introduces Constance to Juliet, who then falls in love with her.
Juliet dances with Constance while Romeo and Tybalt observe with suspicion. Tybalt decides to kill Constance. Romeo plans to disguise himself as a woman to attract Constance and interrupts the dance. Seeing this, Juliet decides to dress as a man to win Constance's affection. Romeo and Juliet start fighting over Constance, who demands they apologize.
In scene 5, Juliet, dressed in Romeo's attire, serenades Constance from below her balcony. They discover they share the same birthday. Constance resists Juliet's advances, expressing her cynicism about love. Juliet reveals she knows the Wise Fool's name and offers it in exchange for a kiss. Romeo then appears in Juliet's clothing, but Constance departs before he can woo her.
Scene 6 unfolds in a graveyard as Constance makes her way to Juliet's balcony. There, she encounters a ghost resembling the King from Hamlet, who reveals that the Wise Fool and the Author are the same "lass." The ghost vanishes, and Tybalt arrives, attempting to kill Constance. Romeo intervenes, allowing Constance to escape.
In scene 7, Juliet uses a rope to pull Constance up to her balcony. They share a passionate kiss, after which Juliet confesses she lied about knowing the Wise Fool's name. When Juliet attempts suicide, Constance restrains her and reveals her true identity as a woman. Juliet declares her love for Constance even more fervently. Despite Constance's insistence that she is not a lesbian, Juliet persuades her that they should be intimate. As Constance reaches under Juliet's shirt, she discovers a page from the Gustav manuscript.
A warp effect suddenly brings Desdemona into the scene, where she begins to smother Constance with a pillow. Juliet tries to intervene and then rushes off to find help. Constance holds up the necklace Othello gave her, revealing a birthday inscription for Desdemona, which halts Desdemona's attack. When Tybalt arrives, Constance feigns death and instructs Desdemona to find Juliet. In scene 8, Desdemona mistakes Romeo for Juliet and tells him to meet them in the crypt.
Romeo, still dressed in Juliet's clothes, has fallen for Desdemona. In scene 9, he invites her to join him in the crypt. However, he mistakes Tybalt for Desdemona, and Tybalt, thinking Romeo is a maiden, carries him away. Upon entering, Juliet starts to stab herself in despair, but Constance intervenes, and they embrace. Desdemona enters and attempts to stab Juliet until Constance stops her. Desdemona then urges Constance to join her in Cyprus, while Juliet pleads with her to stay and die with her. Constance interrupts their pleas, highlighting their flaws. They agree to abandon their tragic tendencies, and Constance realizes she is both the play's Author and the Wise Fool. A warp effect then transports Constance back to her office at Queen's University, where she discovers her pen has turned to gold.
