Angus Graham-Campbell

The play was written to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the death of John Keats and Angus Graham-Campbell had weaved the poems and the real history inside of his play.

At the end of his life, knowing that he is close to death, Keats went to Rome to see if that will help. He did not want to initially - the woman he loves is not coming with him and he is sure he will never see her again. The trip almost killed him (and that part may be hard to listen to if one has issues with the usual noises of sick people on boats). The story is told by Joseph Severn - the friend who went to Italy and stayed with the poet until he died.

It opens at the cemetery where Keats is buried, during the cold and rainy night of his funeral. On the way back to town, the people who were present, start talking about the dead man and his wishes for his tombstone and how the authorities had treated the poet's possessions. And then we go back in time, to the visit of the doctor which is the long beginning of that trip to Italy and then we follow the two friends until we catch up with the beginning of the story again.

We know where the story must go - not only because we saw the end but also because we know what happens to Keats. And it is still tragic and sad and heart-breaking, especially the death scene.… (mais)