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Overview
Synopsis
The Birds is the story of two aging Athenians, Pithetaerus and Euelpides, who set out in search of a better life. Eschewing the city life they've known, which is crowded, noisy, and full of annoying pests such as poets, lawyers, philosophers, and tax collectors, they seek out Epops, king of the birds, who might advise them of the ideal place for them to settle. Seeing the life of the birds, the two men decide that they would prefer to live among them, and they convince Epops and his court to found a new city in the clouds, and to live as the gods that they rightfully are. But, no sooner have the city walls been built than they are barraged by the same agents of bureaucracy that Pithetaerus and Euelpides were trying to escape - not to mention the Olympian gods themselves, who are not happy to have been dethroned by the birds.
This fantastical play from the founding father of comedic drama is filled with crass humor and inside jokes that would have had audiences in ancient Athens rolling in the aisles. To this day, The Birds’ combination of music, magical visuals, and satirical representations of legendary Greek heroes makes it ideal for modern clowns and comedians.
Show Information
- Book
- Aristophanes
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- A thicket in Ancient Greece
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- None
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Adult, Young Adult, Late Teen Characters
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
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
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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