The Simple Truth centers Ethelia, princess of Bonavia - a country victim to the imperialism of Count Orsino’s Illyria. Confronted with the oppression of her people, the grief of her father’s recent death, her brother’s obsession with power, in the face of injustice she challenges her brother to a wrestling match to determine the fate of the Kingswood, the fateful forest, high in the interest of all parties...
The Simple Truth centers Ethelia, princess of Bonavia - a country victim to the imperialism of Count Orsino’s Illyria. Confronted with the oppression of her people, the grief of her father’s recent death, her brother’s obsession with power, in the face of injustice she challenges her brother to a wrestling match to determine the fate of the Kingswood, the fateful forest, high in the interest of all parties. Leonardo accepts the challenge. Fleeing the palace into the Kingswood Ethelia is received by those who dwell there. The while Leonardo is trained by the double agent Callido and war hero Antonio, away from his mother the dowager Queen, to thus embrace his grief. Upon the great confrontation Ethelia braves a controversial proposition to lift her people out of their desperate state at the great cost to the hierarchy of their nation. Herona, in a fit of violence, strikes Ethelia out cold, sparking a wild civil war, However, as if affected by a spell, everyone witnesses the spirit of Ethelia running through the city toward the forest, having fled her body. Leonardo, resolved into himself gives chase to brings her spirit back. The resulting confrontation is a violent conflagration. Herona flees the country, surrendering to Illyria’s emissary La Sega. Leonardo satisfies the spirit of Ethelia, who awakens among the people. The turncoat Grimaldo is defeated. Bonavia stands unified while great and terrible Illyria looms over them approaching in full force.
Through Bonavia, we also follow the exiled Antonio and the Bonavian agent sent to retrieve him, Callido. It is a love that boils and burns and brings the lost Antonio, not only home to Bonavia, but to himself and his greatest prize, his own integrity.
