Doctor Vysarius

In the closing years of the 17th century, an astronomer battles with a mute magician (Doctor Vysarius) for the attention of the impish boy-emperor of a debauched Holy Roman Empire. He builds a new, far-seeing telescope and glimpses something in the heavens hurtling towards Earth – but, the machinations of the magician keep anyone from heeding his warnings. As the heavens tumble down, and visions of vivisected angels begin to populate the astronomer’s dreams, he struggles madly to halt the progress of the magician’s influence at court. All the while, he is aided by his concerned lover, Lord Porkeo, court jester and prince of clowns, whom he increasingly alienates and, finally, abandons in his monomaniacal pursuit of Doctor Vysarius.