Goran Stefanovski ODYSSEUS (a play for the theatre) 2012 Translated from the Croatian by Patricia Marsh-Stefanovska © Goran Stefanovski 18, Martyrs Field Road Canterbury, CT1 3PT Great Britain 01227 458 236 e-mail:
[email protected] [Type text] CHARACTERS (with possible duplication of roles) ODYSSEUS ATHENE PENELOPE (MOTHER, SIREN) TELEMACHUS MAID (HELEN, SIREN, NAUSICAA, CIRCE) CALYPSO (SIREN, HECUBA, DOG) ZEUS (MENELAUS, FIRST SOLDIER) POSEIDON (NESTOR, SECOND SOLDIER) BARD (TIRESIAS) CYCLOPS (SUITOR, REFUGEE, ASTYANAX) Fragments from Robert Fagles', William Cowper's, Alexander Pope's and E.V.Rieu's translations of Homer's Odyssey and from Philip Vellacott's translation of Euripides' Trojan Women are used in the play. The play was commissioned by the Ulysses Theatre of Zagreb and first performed on 20th July, 2012. 2 [Type text] PROLOGUE Enter the Bard with a group of actors. BARD (Singing) Home is where I spend the night, Home is where I feel all right. I can never go back home For now I’ve lost my way, I can never leave my home No, never go away. Home is where they know my name, Home is where I lay my claim. I can never go back home For now I’ve lost my way, I can never leave my home No, never go away. Home is where My love is strong, Home is where My pain is long. 3 [Type text] I can never go back home For now I’ve lost my way, I can never leave my home No, never go away. The actors disperse. Pause. BARD Sing to me of Odysseus, Muse, the man of twists and turns, the cunning destroyer of the sacred city of Troy.