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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
- Book
- Aristophanes
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
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 |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
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
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Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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