Explore this Show
Overview
Synopsis
The Athenian queen Phaedra believes she is the most wretched woman. Her husband--who kidnapped her after killing his first wife--is away on a quest to the Underworld, and she believes that he is probably dead. Worse than that, Phaedra is consumed with passion for her stepson Hippolytus. She knows that she has been cursed by Venus, the goddess of love, to love shamefully. Yet Phaedra cannot control her passion, and rather than die, she confesses her love to Hippolytus. After he violently reacts, even threatening to kill her, Phaedra and her nurse concoct a tragic and disastrous lie that destroys the house of Theseus.
Seneca’s Phaedra is the ancient Roman retelling of the famous Greek myth. While Seneca’s text was probably inspired by Hippolytus by the Greek playwright Euripides, the Roman version--marked by its excessive passion leading to death and destruction--was the foundation for so many later versions, from French neoclassical to opera seria.
Show Information
- Book
- Lucius Seneca
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 5
- Genres
- Tragedy
- Settings
- Period, Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- Ancient Athens
- Cast Size
- small
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly Characters, Small Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer, Silent |
Songs
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
Scenes
Key Terms
Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress