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Overview

Synopsis

Brave and noble cousins, Palamon and Arcite, are taken prisoner after a bitter battle between Athens and Thebes. The men resign themselves to their fate as happy captives - until they catch sight of Duke Theseus' beautiful daughter Emilia and both immediately fall in love. Their life-long friendship is soon marred by rivalry over Emilia’s affections - a thing made more complicated by the fact that Emilia doesn’t really want either of them. Meanwhile, the daughter of the jailer has fallen for Palamon, and will go to any lengths to help him and win his love.

This story of a classic love triangle is based on Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, with some notable additions and deviations. This fast-paced tragi-comical romance uses the action of wrestling matches, tournaments and duels to explore murky moral themes surrounding friendship, loyalty, choice and fate.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
1634
Genres
Comedy
Settings
Period
Time & Place
Ancient Athens
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
None
Dancing
None
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Palamon

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Arcite

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Emilia

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Duke Theseus

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Jailer

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Jailer's Daughter

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Hippolyta

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Pirithous

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Valerius

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Knights (6)

Featured

Male

Non-singer

The Wooer

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Doctor

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Emilia's Servant

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Schoolmaster

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Queens (3)

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Countrymen (4)

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Friends of the Jailer (2)

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Ensemble (4)

Ensemble

Either Gender

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

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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

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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