In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Rappaccini’s Daughter” (published in 1844, and here adapted by Charles Tidler for the stage), the brilliant professor Giacomo Rappaccini plays God with the laws of nature by building a secret garden in his own image. He sacrrifices his daughter Beatrice to experiments with poisons, rendering her invulnerabel to pain, forever youthful, innocent and alone.
A young student, a ne’er-do-well named Giovanni, discovers the garden and falls in love with Beatrice. Rappaccini soon sets a trap to lure this ‘new Adam,’ the last piece of the scientific puzzle, into his poisonous paradise.
A cautionary tale from a 19th Century gothic master is here a dark romance set for the 21st Century stage.

Charles Tidler’s stage plays have been produced throughout Canada, the United States, and in Edinburgh and London’s West End. They have won many honours and awards. He is also a poet and the author of a novel, Going to New Orleans. Originally from Indiana, Tidler has lived in Victoria, BC, for many years.