Dolchetta

History

In the 17^th century is where the Cretan comedy “The forgotten fiancée” belongs, also referred as “Fiorentino and Dolchétta” based on a known fairytale. The Sultan of Cairo is sick and the sole cure for him is to anoint him with the blood of a prince. His pirates snatch prince Fiorentino and shut him into a tower. The daughter of the king however falls in love with him and helps him escape. The Sultan, in anger curses Fiorentino, wishing him to forget Dolchétta when his mother kisses him, and to remember her again when his mother slaps him. When the prince returns to his palace, he falls asleep and his mother gives him a kiss, so when he wakes up has no memory of Dolchétta anymore. Careless, he goes to hunting with two friends of his, and they come across Dolchétta; they try to seduce her by offering her money. She takes the money but does not yield. Thus, they report her to the king demanding the money back. It is there that Dolchétta reveals the whole story and her father’s curse. The mother slaps Fiorentino, he remembers again, and all ends well.

The common elements of Greek ancient tragedies and comedies with Cretan Drama works are obvious in all the above plays. The powerful female characters that star in the Greek living and are pictured in Arts, represent the “Mother”, the “Lover” and the “Fighter”, and are also imprinted into the Greek soul.