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Perseus the Brave

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Perseus the Brave 1 P E R S E U S T H E B R A V E A play in Seven Scenes for the Fifth Grade by Roberto Trostli The Hartsbrook School 193 Bay Road Hadley, MA 01035 (413) 586-1908 [email protected] 2 Author’s note: This play is one of a group of plays written for the classes I taught at the Rudolf Steiner School in New York from 1982–1991 and at The Hartsbrook School in Hadley, MA from 1991-1999. The theme of each play was chosen to address a particular class’s issues and interests, and the characters were rendered with specific students in mind. When other teachers and classes have performed my plays, I have encouraged them to adapt or revise the play as necessary to derive the maximum pedagogical value from it. Other class’s performances have showed me artistic dimensions of my plays that I could not have imagined, and I have always been grateful to see that my work has taken on new life. I have posted my plays on the Online Waldorf Library as Microsoft Word documents so that they can easily be downloaded and changed. I have purposely given few stage directions so that teachers and students will make the plays more their own. Dear Colleagues: I hope that these plays will serve you well as inspiration, as a scaffold on which to build your own creation, or as a script to make your own. Please don’t hesitate to take whatever liberties you wish so that the play may serve you in your work. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to phone or email me. Roberto Trostli The Hartsbrook School 193 Bay Road Hadley, MA 01035 (413) 586-1908 [email protected] June, 2004 3 Cast of Characters: Acrisius, King of Argos Danae, his daughter Perseus, son of Danae and Zeus A priest of Apollo A priestess of Apollo Soldier Dictys, a fisherman of Seriphos Dictys's wife Polydectes, King of Seriphos A servant 3 Lords Hermes Athena The 3 gray sisters Medusa, the Gorgon The two Gorgon sisters A chorus of all the characters Scenes: 1. The temple of Apollo in Delphi 2. On the shores of rocky Seriphos 3. In the court of King Polydectes 4. On the road to Athens 5. On the island of the grey sisters 6. On the island of the Gorgons 7. In the court of King Polydectes 4 (Chorus of characters enters singing "Sing of the Stout-Hearted Hero".) CHORUS: Sing of the stout-hearted hero, son of fair Danae of Argos, Sing of the mighty adventures, of Perseus, brave and courageous. Far in the lands to the east, on the bless'd islands of Hellas, Dwelled two brave brothers in strife, sons of King Abas the mighty, Each strove the other to master, each sought the other to slay, But Acrisius prevailed in the battle, and banished his brother forever. SCENE I The Temple of Apollo in Delphi ACRISIUS: Though ruler of this realm I be My crown stands much in jeopardy, For I must keep my wealth and lands Safe from my brother's grasping hands. So to Apollo's shrine I've come To ask the priestess of the sun What fate betides my future years, O oracle—allay my fears! PRIEST: Hail, O hail Acrisius! What question brings thee here to us? What problem hast thee hither brought That thou the oracle hast sought? ACRISIUS: Here I plead on bended knee, Asking him who reigns on high, What will befall my house and me? Who will reign Argos when I die? 5 PRIEST: Thy fate will be revealed by her Who doth receive the god's own word Inspired by Apollo's well, She will thy wondering dispell. (The priestess and her attendants come forward.) PRIESTESS: Long may Acrisius of Argos pray for an heir to his kingdom, Long may he wait for a son, leaving his daughter untended. But let watch over his daughter, and let him beware of her son, For one day shall that son slay Acrisius, the gods have determined it so. ACRISIUS: Soldier! Come hear my command What thou must do and take in hand: Return at once to Argos fair Without delay imprison there My daughter Danae in a cell Alone she must forever dwell. SOLDIER: Most puissant sire, what thou has willed Shall by thy servant be fulfilled. ACRISIUS: The gods have planned this wicked deed And bid Acrisius pray take heed, But like a bull I shall resist The gods' attempt my will to twist. In prison shall my daughter lie Where no man cam here e'er come nigh. So see if she a son can bear Tucked safe away in her prison lair. CHORUS: Angry and fearful Acrisius imprisoned his daughter fair Danae But Zeus the almighty had noticed her purity, goodness, and beauty. Raining in bright golden showers, the god came to visit the maiden And there in the dark gloomy dungeon, her son, the brave Perseus, was born. 6 SCENE II - On the shores of rocky Seriphos WIFE: Dictys, husband, can'st thou hear These sounds approaching ever nearer? Across the ocean's waters deep Methinks I heard a woman weep. DICTYS: Dearest wife, whate'er it be, By break of day we soon shall see. WIFE: Look there husband! A chest of wood. Go fetch it safely from the flood. Let us see who within it lies That called us with her piteous cries. (Dictys fetches Danae, who cradles the baby in her arms.) DICTYS: Fair maiden, come, now art thou art safe; Take this cloak for thee and thy waif. How cold thou art and drenched with foam, Come warm thee by our hearth at home. DANAE: My humble thanks I give to thee, Who rescued us from the raging sea. (Dictys and his wife lead Danae into their house.) DICTYS: Come maiden, come and get thee warm, Now thou art safe and free from harm; Then shalt thou tell what brought thee thus To the shores of rocky Seriphos. WIFE: Here is some wine, and here some cake Thy hunger and thy thirst to slake. There's time enough to hear thy tale When thou hast supped and drunk thy fill. DICTYS: Now tell us maiden, who thou art, And how thou camest to these parts. DANAE: From far-off Argos come I here Exiled by my father's fear Who sought his cruel fate to shun By locking me in a deep dungeon. 7 Yet prison bars could not restrain The shower of Zeus's golden rain. To me was born the son of Zeus And I named him brave Perseus. In fear, and in his own defense The king, my father cast me hence And Perseus with me to drown So that he would not seize the crown. Yet Zeus protected wife and son For we were saved, and here have come. WIFE: Poor maid and child, what cruel end Thy fearful father for thee planned. But here with us thou mayest live And all our love we shall thee give. CHORUS: So Danae and Perseus were rescued by Dictys and by his by kind wife, Who opened their hearts and their home and loved them as they would their own. Polydectes, the king of the island, soon noticed the beautiful maiden, Bragging and blustering he promised he'd win her and make her his wife. SCENE III - Polydectes's court POLYDECTES: Slaves and servants, gather near! Do the wenches hide in fear? Servants! Slaves! Come when I call! Must a king howl to be served at all? 1ST SERVANT: We beg thy pardon, majesty We came as soon as we were free. 8 POLYDECTES: As you were free? You'll ne'er be free Enough to scorn my royal call. When will you learn that slaves must be Prompt to report, whate'er befall? Thus will you learn a lesson sure: My lash will teach you this and more. 1ST SERVANT: We meant no harm, your majesty— POLYDECTES: Begone! And bring my wine to me! (First serving girl leaves, Danae remains at the king's side) POLYDECTES: And now my sweet, how does it please Thee here to bow thy lovely head? Thou could'st enjoy a life of ease If thou would be my wife instead. (to the audience) As if she could refuse the king! And I—the king of Seriphos! Scorned? Rejected? No such thing! I will not stop short of success. DANAE: My life is thine, for thou hast claimed Me as thy slave to do thy will But my love still has true remained To him whose arm protects me still. POLYDECTES: Out! Out! No more from you! Enough! Enough! But when I'm through You'll drop from work, you'll weep in pain And beg to be set free again. 1ST SERVANT: Here come thy lords to feast tonight... POLYDECTES: Begone...begone...BEGONE from my sight! (three lords enter bearing gifts) POLYDECTES: Welcome, my lords, welcome. 9 1ST LORD: O noble king, long may'st thou reign! We come thy birthday to acclaim, To show our love and constancy These precious gifts we bring to thee. POLYDECTES: Excellent! Excellent! Let us see A silver goblet? My thanks to thee! Now here—a scabbard for my sword? Well chosen—and thanks, my gracious lord. And now—a bracelet of beaten gold? How well it will my arm enfold! But who's that standing at the door? Come in, come in, there's room for more..
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