The Theatre of Epidaurus

A Play by Grace Muth

Warning: This blog post is in the form of a script.  Please be aware of that. Thank You.

Scene One

Lights up on a classroom

Teacher: Kalymera, good morning.

Class: Kalymera

Teacher: I Hope you all remember that our field trip is today and we will be leaving for the theatre shortly

Class: Yeah/ Yes/ Yup

Teacher: Good, now when we get there we will meet up with our tour guide.  Her name is Smaro. Oh look the bus is here, Let’s go!

All exit stage right

Blackout

Scene two

Lights up on the theatre of Epidaurus

Teacher: Here we are class, the theatre of Epidaurus. I’m going to turn things over to Smaro so give her your respect

Alice (the girl who never gets off her phone): Lamest field trip ever, like went to the Coliseum or whatever, and it’s not even finished.

Frankie (the kid who loves history): Oh my god Alice, this isn’t the Coliseum, and it's been finished for centuries but its been worn down by time!

Alice: Whatever geek.

Smaro: Okay class, welcome to the theater of Epidaurus.  The theater was created around 1000 B.C. as part of a sanctuary built to honor the gods of healing. It really honors one god in particular; do any of you know who that is?

Frankie: Asklepios?

Smaro: Yes that is correct.  People would come here to be healed by the priests of Asklepios. People would spend the night and they would dream and then tell their dreams to the priests and the priests would come up with a cure.

Alex (the boy who loves science): would the cures actually work?

Frankie: Most of the time yes.

Alex: Cool!

Smaro: Yes it is, the theater is known for its acoustics.  The acoustics are amazing if you stand behind the circular rock, which is an altar for Dionysus, it feels like you are in a recording studio.

Alex: What is the science behind that?

Smaro: Well the stone helps reflect sound, and the depth of the seats not only provides comfort but also contributes to the sound quality.  The best acoustics happen when there is no wind, noise, and a full theatre.  Male voices carry best.

Alex: Doesn’t the shape have something to do with it too?

Smaro: Of course, the oval shape like a stereo speaker gives everyone a more equal earshot and there is one triangular area where the actors produce the best sound. Are there any more questions before we go inside?

Avery (actress): Do people still preform here?

Smaro: Yes, in fact the last performance of the summer was last week. Are there any other questions? No, okay remember don’t go on the altar for Dionysus.

(Students walk into the theatre)

James (Klutz): Hey, listen to this!  Wow, this is so weird! I’m a performer! (Starts dancing) Yot do do! (Trips) Whoa! Uh-oh! (Steadies himself onto the altar of Dionysus) Whew! (James disappears)

Alex: Hey were did James go?

Frankie: I don’t know, the last time I saw him he was on the circular rock…

(Walks over to the rock)

Alex: James? James!

(Steps on the rock and disappears)

Frankie: Whoa, what just happened?

Alice: Ugh this is the lamest field trip ever. When can we go home?

(Starts walking toward the rock)

Frankie: Alice no!!

Alice: What do you want, nerd?

(Steps on the rock then screams and disappears)

Avery: Did Smaro say to stand on the rock or behind it? I think she said on it.

(Steps on the rock and disappears)

Frankie: Oh dear, I’d better go find out what happened to them

(Runs and jumps on the rock them disappears)

Blackout

Scene Three

Lights up on the ancient theater, James, Alex, Alice, Avery and Frankie stumble in

Avery: Where are we?

Frankie: I think we’re at the theatre.

Alex: Yeah but when are we?

Frankie: 6^th century B.C.

James: Sweet!

Alice: Eww the past?! Like the Amish field trip wasn’t bad enough but the actual past? How will I live?

Alex: Jeez! Calm down.  We just need to figure out how to get back.

James: How did we get here?

Frankie: The rock!

Avery: So all we need to do is stand on the rock and we can go home!

Alice: Um, if you ding-dongs haven’t noticed, there’s a performance going on!

Alex: Oh yeah… we can’t wait until it’s over because then the class will have left.

Frankie: What are we going to do?

James: Hmmm I know we can…

Avery: Act our way back!

Alex: That’s a great idea!

Frankie: Yeah except all of the actors were full grown men not middle schoolers!

Alice: You mean men and women?

Frankie: No, I mean men, males played females.

Alice: There is no way I will play a guy!

Avery: You don’t have to. We can be chorus members!

James: That’s great and all but we don’t exactly blend in.

Alex: You’re right we need costumes. What did people wear in ancient Greece?

Frankie: Tunics, dresses, sometimes nothing.

Alice: WHAT!!!?? There is no way I will be nude!

Frankie: Only the men were nude and since you will be a female chorus member you will wear a dress.

Alice: Who says I’m going to be a girl?

Avery: You, me, everyone else.

Alex: Okay, we to get our costumes.

James: I’ll go

Frankie: Me to

Avery: You’ll need a theatre expert!

Alex: I’ll wait here with Alice

Alice: ugh, walking.

(James, Frankie & Avery exit stage left)

Alice: Why can’t my phone connect? It had service earlier.

Alex: I don’t think the ancient Greeks had cell phone service.

Alice: WHAT!!??!!?? (Screams and Frankie, James and Avery run on)

James: Is everything okay?

Alex: Yeah we just had a reality check

Frankie: Which was?

Alice: No…Cell phone … service!

Frankie: Oh, ha-ha!

Avery: We got the costumes!

Alex: Great, we can take turns changing behind those bushes.

James: We should go in pairs, Alice and Avery go first, and then me and Alex and Frankie you go by your self.

Frankie: Sounds good!

(Alice and Avery change and come back then James and Alex go)

Frankie: Wow Avery you look like a goddess!

Avery: Thanks!

Alice: Ahem, what about me?

Frankie: I thought you didn’t care what I said?

Alice: I guess I do.

James: Your turn Frankie

Frankie: Okay (he changes and comes back)

Alex: Okay Avery, what do we do?

Avery: Follow my lead and try to do well since the audience throws vegetables at you if you do poorly. We should wait until the next scene and practice during that time.

Blackout

Scene Four

Lights up on a performance with the 5 characters huddled on stage right

Avery: Okay let's go.

(Cross in a line towards the stone)

Avery: Follow me. (Starts the chorus moves)

Frankie: James, watch out!

James: What? OOF! (Gets hit by a tomato)

Alex: C’mon guys!

Alice: So I just step on the stone?

Alex: Yes, do that now.

Frankie: One, Two, Three!

Blackout

Scene Five

Lights up on the modern theater of Epidaurus

Avery: We did it!!

James: yes! (High five)

Smaro: Oh there you are!

Teacher: we were worried about you!

Smaro: Why are you dressed like ancient Greek actors?

Frankie: well you could say we had a hands-on experience.

Alex: Hey Alice Why eh long face? We made it back home.

Alice: I broke my phone.

BLACKOUT

Full theatre

The circular rock is the altar of Dionysus

Look at all those seats!