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Overview

Synopsis

Penelope, the wise and patient wife of the ancient Greek hero Odysseus, has passed beyond the veil of death. From Hades - the land of the dead - Penelope can see everything about her past and present, including her historical reputation as a perfectly faithful wife. However, she is haunted by the blood on her hands: the deaths of her twelve maids who were slaughtered by Odysseus under false pretenses. Begging the audience not to follow in her footsteps, Penelope re-tells the story of The Odyssey from her point of view, through a series of visions spanning her life.

Based on Margaret Atwood’s novel by the same name, The Penelopiad is a poetic, feminist re-imagining of Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey. The play is beautifully rendered in both prose and verse in contemporary language, and is brimming with powerful symbolism that will leave audiences shaken.

Show Information

Based on the Play/Book/Film
The Penelopiad
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
2007
Genres
Drama
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings, Simple/No Set
Time & Place
The underworld, Ancient Greece
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
None
Dancing
None
Licensor
See CONTEXT AND/OR LINKS TAB
Ideal For
College/University, Ensemble Cast, Large Cast, Mostly Female Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Includes Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly Characters, Medium Cast

Context

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Penelope

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Odysseus

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Maids (12)

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Telemachus

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Helen

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Eurycleia

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Antinuous

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Naiad Mother

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Icarius

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Oracle

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Laertes

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Anticleia

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Suitors (3)

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Menelaus

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

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

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

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

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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