It would do well to remind my kind audience -for let us be honest, if the entire world is indeed a stage, and this one is, I must be performing for someone- how does being a Playwright work in times before those of Hollywood and the Silver Screen.
In a society like Braavos, everything is an extension of Politics, and Politics rear their ugly head everywhere. Different courtesans are frequented by different political factions, different sports teams -the locals play Waterpolo as well as something not too different from the Italian old Calcio, who would have thought?- are backed by different upper class families, different fads in fashion are partly subject to who is in power...
Theater is no different. Then again, in that world that might as well have been a fever dream or a previous life of mine, it was the case. In the times of the Bard of Avon, he rose to such heights because he was, to an extent, a beneficiary of Royal Patronage on top of his wit. Sure, the Golden Age of Spanish Literature and Theatre were less beholden on a personal level to the rulers, but many of its great writers and playwrights were tied to the Church.
In a city like Braavos, this is also true. And doubly so, when a Playwright must carefully juggle his contacts in more than one political group. While my contract with the Sea Dragon Troupe allowed me to not over-worry myself over that matter, I still needed to learn. And over the last ten years I learned a lot.
Nominally, the Sea Dragon Troupe was closely tied to the Antaryon family. The Antaryons were big on a certain kind of Neutrality with Westeros -while holding a Damocles' sword over the Westerosi King's head- and focusing on expanding the land-based military of Braavos in order to preserve its dominion and eventually enforce proper manumission on Pentos. While keeping a status-quo with the other Free Cities, they believed that the day would come sooner rather than later, when the Braavosi economy would outcompete its slave-based rivals so much that they would slowly fall into the orbit of the Bastard Daughter.
Of course, other families had their own ins with the Troupe. The Zalynes were more interested in a close relationship with the Westerosi Crown, a partnership even, to eventually form a coalition with Westeros and expand Braavos' dominion, not only over the Seas, but over the other Free Cities as a last insult to fallen Valyria. They were rather expansionistic to be fair.
Both families were notoriously antagonistic, and while the relations between them now were cold but civil, there had been times when they had gone on full on blood feuds that eventually died down.
Under such conditions, How could I resist bringing that tragedy that so many believe to be a romantic story? Hell, the parallels wrote themselves! It was a tough choice, but in the end I chose to preserve the setting -Verona- and the names, however, I couldn't help but laugh at how obvious it was for anyone that the Montagues and Capulets were the Zalynes and the Antaryons... Only that they actually weren't! To make it even more hilarious, a couple of centuries ago the plot of the story pretty much happened, with Moredo Zalyne and Serra Antarion getting married in secret only to end up dead, it was a little known fact that both houses didn't shout out to the four winds, but they didn't particularly care about covering it up, time had done that for them.
And so, on the new year, the play had its first showing. I attended with Daenerys and Viserys -they were, after all, my siblings, or so was the word on the street- And funnily enough both families were in attendance.
This was not the only new play. There were two other plays to be released soon. From my memories I had managed to reconstruct The Prince of Egypt -and Maelio had liked it, saying that it would be a fine Uncloaking play- and Twelfth Night -Which Maelio had found absolutely hilarious-
The balcony where I was had seats, and so I sat with Daenerys and Viserys as the curtains rose.
Three hours later, there was applause. I looked down, and saw that the eldest son of the Sealord, and one of the Zalyne daughters both seemed distressed.
Oh well, hopefully the two kids won't do anything stupid. Then again, when have humans been known for not doing stupid things?.