Overview
Synopsis
A scheme to reunite two young lovers and bring down an arrogant soldier drives Miles Gloriosus, the longest-surviving play by Roman playwright Titus Plautus. Pyrgopolynices, the play’s titular “braggart soldier”, has kidnapped Philocomasium, a young Athenian woman and lover of Pleusicles. Pyrgopolynices also kidnapped Pleusicles’ former slave, Palaestrio. Palaestrio and Pyrgopolynices’ neighbor, Periplectomenus, devise a scheme to trick Pyrgopolynices and free both Philocomasium and Palaestrio. This ensemble comedy is a fun exploration of ancient Roman theatre and comic stock characters: the cunning servant, the boastful soldier, the parasite, and the young lovers.
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Characters
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Character Portrayals
See StageAgent members who have performed roles in Miles Gloriosus.
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Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A dramatic device where a character speaks directly to the audience or to themselves, unheard by other characters onstage.
A performance technique where an actor speaks directly to the audience, breaking the fourth wall for dramatic or comedic effect.
A group of performers who function as a unit in a production rather than as individuals with leading roles.
An introductory speech or scene that sets up the context or themes of a play. Prologues are commonly used in classical drama to prepare the audience for what follows.
A classical genre featuring stock characters, mistaken identities, and satire, influential in Western dramatic traditions.
Recognizable character types used across theatrical traditions, such as the fool, villain, or ingenue.
Quizzes
Guide Written By:
Kevan Dunkelberg
Oklahoma-based drama teacher, actor and playwright