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Overview

Synopsis

The Acharnians is a hilarious satire, and an indictment of unnecessary war. The play follows the attempts of the hero Dicaeopolis to make a personal peace with the Spartans even though his native city of Athens is fighting in the Peloponnesian War. After side-stepping informers, the Athenian Assembly, a quarrelsome general, and the playwright Euripides, Dicaeopolis convinces the Chorus of Acharnians (coal-miners who have lost everything in the Spartan invasions), that maybe Athens' war isn't serving their interests after all.

The Acharnians is the oldest surviving play by Greek comedic playwright Aristophanes, and is thought to be a spirited response to the critical reception of a lost earlier play, The Babylonians. Written and produced in the sixth year of the Peloponnesian War, the play pokes fun at many historical figures and makes reference to events that would have been very much relevant to the life and times of an Athenian audience.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
1
Genres
Satire
Settings
Period
Time & Place
athens
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
None
Dancing
None
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
university theatre, outdoor theatre, professional theatre, community theatre, College/University, Community Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult Characters, Large Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Dicaeopolis

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Amphitheus

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Ambassador

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Pseudartabas

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Theorus

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Daughter of Dicaeopolis

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Slave

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Euripides

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Lamachus

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Megarian

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Boeotian

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Herald

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Daughters (2)

Ensemble

Female

Non-singer

Informer

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Nicarchus

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Slave of Lamachus

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Ensemble

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Wedding Guests

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Chorus of Acharnians

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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