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Overview

Synopsis

Set in the United States in the early 21st Century, the country is run by a theocratic Protestant fundamentalist dictatorship known as the Republic of Glidead. Political and religious dissidents live in daily fear of deportation to a gulag of labour camps or public execution. Offred, having been caught attempting to flee from Gilead, is sentenced to become a Handmaid - a surrogate mother for a high-ranking couple suffering from fertility problems. She makes contacts with the underground resistance and is smuggled on the underground railroad to Canada. At the end of the opera, it is learned that the tape on which her story is revealed was retold in a safe house within Gilead. The success or failure of her attempt to flee to Canada is therefore unknown.

Show Information

Music
Poul Ruders
Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
Genres
Cast Size
large
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
Mostly Female Cast, Large Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Offred

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Aunt Lydia

Female

Soprano

The Commander

Male

Bass

Offred in the Time Before

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Luke

Male

Tenor

Nick

Male

Tenor

Rita

Female

Alto

Ofglen

Female

Soprano

Moira

Female

Soprano

Janine/Ofwarren

Female

Soprano

Offred's mother

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Doctor

Male

Tenor

Professor Pieixoto

Male

Spoken

New Ofglen

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Commander X

Male

Tenor

Moira's Aunt

Female

Alto

Warren's wife

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Offred and Luke's daughter

Female

Spoken

Serena Joy

Female

Alto

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

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Quizzes

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Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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