I’m very pleased to announce I have a finished a new historical drama of which I am very proud – “I and the Emperor.”

Briefly, “I and the Emperor” explores the unlikely, turbulent relationship between the 16-year-old Betsy Balcombe and the aging Napoleon Bonaparte during the latter’s exile on the island of St. Helena. The play is ultimately the story of Betsy herself, who comes to understand life, with all its peaks and valleys, through understanding the complexity and tragedy of the exiled Emperor in her backyard.

At its heart, “I and the Emperor” is a sometimes droll, sometimes dramatic, but ultimately touching and thoughtful coming-of-age tale. As a theatrical piece, the play is noteworthy for its two powerful leading roles and several strong supporting characters and that it requires only 7 actors (2 women, 5 men) and a simple unit set to bring its story to life.

(Napoleon and Betsy Balcombe, from an etching in Balcombe’s memoir.)

You can read a synopsis of the play here!