The revenger's tragedy

A spirited example of the revenge plays popular in Elizabethan and Jacobean England. Set in a city in Italy, its central character, Vindice, is intent upon avenging his mistress poisoned by the lecherous old Duke. Disguised, he infiltrates the Duke's family and brings to a head their murderous power struggles. Spiced with Vindice's lugubrious humour, the play unravels with whiplash ferocity until all the protagonists are dead, or about to die.