Clytemnestra's Daughters by Christopher Shorr Based on the tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides Christopher Shorr 1010 N. New Street Bethlehem, PA 18018 [email protected] 484-695-3564 © 2009 Christopher Shorr The Plot This play at times follows traditional plots, but moves between Euripides’, Sophocles’ and Aeschylus’ versions of the story of the house of Atreus, and at other times takes new turns. Special Thanks Special thanks to Sycamore Rouge, Moravian College, the Southampton Playwriting Conference and Touchstone Theatre, for their assistance in the development of the script, and to Rebecca Kolacki and Alanah Cervantes for their research assistance. Structure Divided into three acts, the play should be performed in two halves, separated by an intermission: Act I (Iphigenia); Intermission; Act II (Chrysothemis) and Act III (Electra) Music The play begins and ends with a few lines of a song. Although written with the 1937 song “Someday My Prince Will Come” by Larry Morey and Frank Churchill in mind, it may be difficult to secure rights to this song for performance. If that is the case, another song could be used. Something wistful and nostalgic with fairytale themes would be ideal. There are plenty of songs in the public domain that could work. Perhaps the 1917 song “I'm Always Chasing Rainbows” by Joe McCarthy and Harry Carroll: At the end of the rainbow there's happiness, And to find it how often I've tried, But my life is a race, just a wild goose chase, And my dreams have all been denied. Why have I always been a failure? What can the reason be? I wonder if the world's to blame, I wonder if it could be me. Chorus: I'm always chasing rainbows, Watching clouds drifting by, My dreams are just like all my schemes, Ending in the sky. Some fellows look and find the sunshine, I always look and find the rain. Some fellows make a winning sometime, I never even make a gain, believe me, I'm always chasing rainbows, I'm watching for a little bluebird in vain. Each year, new songs are available in the public domain. Pick something that feels right, using “Someday My Prince Will Come” as a model. CHARACTERS CLYTEMNESTRA Queen of Argos, sister of Helen AGAMEMNON Clytemnestra’s husband, King of Argos, head of the house of Atreus, General of the Greek army IPHIGENIA Clytemnestra’s eldest daughter CHRYSOTHEMIS Clytemnestra’s middle daughter ELECTRA Clytemnestra’s youngest daughter MENELAUS Agamemnon’s brother, Helen’s husband AEGISTHUS Clytemnestra’s lover ACHILLES Iphigenia’s betrothed, finest warrior in Agamemnon’s army CASSANDRA Agamemnon’s prisoner/lover, Princess of Troy, has the power to prophesize but cannot communicate SOLDIER CHORUS One or more women, also serves as DJ ACT I: IPHIGENIA PROLOGUE Pre-show music is mixed by CHORUS, visible to audience at a station near the stage. Along with DJ equipment, there may be musical instruments if CHORUS doubles as musician. CHORUS continues to serve as DJ throughout the play. As pre-show lights fade, music—contemporary (hip hop influence) with perhaps some 1930’s- 40’s smoky live trumpet played over track—comes to close. CHORUS Lives lost and found Running forward, slipping backwards trying to gain ground Trapped in your life but adept at delusions Feed yourself illusions, wake up hungry shovel dirt in your mouth Couch it in shame and blame yourself Your story, your conclusions Fool yourself thinking you can escape it but run into walls Squirmin’ like vermin in a terrarium marry a man bear children and bury ‘em ‘sthe way o’ life woman marry a man bear children and bury ‘em ‘sthe way o’ life Spotlight. CLYTEMNESTRA appears. CHORUS (CONT’D) Story of a woman: Clytemnestra Queen of nothing Clytemnestra Overflowing Ripped from a dream, closes her eyes and creates another. Married for love; husband murdered shoved under the ground; Baby boy dragged to town and slaughtered. (MORE) (CONTINUED) 2. CONTINUED: CHORUS (CONT’D) Clytemnestra bartered and bought by the man whose hand had done it. Run it up, run it down, count it anyway you want it She buries the blame. Marries in shame. His wife now. New life now. Run it up, run it down, count it anyway you want it A survivor survives strife Clytemnestra makes a deal: Good life; good wife. Mouth shut. Doesn’t bicker Here’s the kicker—man’s the king So it’s fur coats and smiles, now. Parties and pearls. And three new girls. Story of a mother: Ripped from one dream, closes her eyes and creates another. Children of a second marriage carry the name of the king of Argos. Princesses of the House of Atreus. Fancy title. Fancy name but dangerous. Words and words. How ‘bout mathematics? Clytemnestra’s equation (mother’s math): She found a husband, added a son. Second husband divided them. Added her to his. Multiplied. Three daughters now, leaving her with what? Clytemnestra Queen of nothing Lights down SCENE 1 In darkness, the sound of ELECTRA fucking. Animal-like, at first we can’t quite identify the sounds. She has always understood the power of sexuality. She is convincing. Added to this, we hear piano. After a couple bars, IPHIGENIA begins to sing “Someday my prince will come” and continues to play sporadically through scene. IPHIGENIA Some day my prince will come Some day we'll meet again And away to his castle we'll go To be happy forever I know (CONTINUED) 3. CONTINUED: Lights up to reveal palace interior. The setting is anachronistic. In this world sacrificial altars and telephones co-exist. IPHIGENIA sits at a piano. Across the stage, CHRYSOTHEMIS sits in an armchair in the midst of a phone call. IPHIGENIA (CONT’D) Some day when spring is here We'll find our love anew CHRYSOTHEMIS (into phone) You are bad—don’t say that. I’m an innocent girl. IPHIGENIA And the birds will sing And wedding bells will ring-- CHRYSOTHEMIS (to IPHIGENIA) Sssh! Spotlight on IPHIGENIA as the action freezes. CHORUS Story of a girl: Lives in a dream Like her mother queen before her Shaken awake Opens her eyes. Sun’s too bright. She’s blinded. Hides from daylight Day break equals heart ache. Her heart aches, her heart breaks. Lights shift back to scene. CHRYSOTHEMIS holds phone up toward grunting sounds. CHRYSOTHEMIS (into phone) Hear that? Make you miss me? I miss you too. I’m just sitting here, ready for bed, all alone, thinking of you. (MORE) (CONTINUED) 4. CONTINUED: (2) CHRYSOTHEMIS (CONT'D) You don’t have to worry about that. Mycenae is like a ghost town, with all the men away. IPHIGENIA stops playing piano, picks up letter and reads to herself over and over CHRYSOTHEMIS (CONT’D) Yeah? Well keep it in your pants, hot shot. I told you—good boys get rewarded. I’m waiting for you. Just a little while longer, I promise. We’ll make it a special home-coming. Very special. Yeah? Mmmm hmmm. So come… home. I told you—absence makes the heart grow fonder. Bye. …Okay bye. Spotlight on CHRYSOTHEMIS as the action freezes. CHORUS Story of a girl: Lives in a dream Wakes up Harsh daylight pervades Invades spaces best protected daylight pervades and prevails Doesn’t blind her Girl wears shades and pigtails learns to lay low, head down, go with the flow Lights shift back to scene. IPHIGENIA You’re so bad. CHRYSOTHEMIS Not bad… patriotic. (affected) My part of the war effort. ELECTRA enters, smoking, and listens from rear. IPHIGENIA (Reading letter) “Your father will advance the crowning of my love.” …“crowning of my love!” …“And make me soon the happiest of men.” (CONTINUED) 5. CONTINUED: (3) ELECTRA Words and words. It’s action has meaning. Spotlight on ELECTRA as the action freezes. CHORUS Story of a girl: Born awake. Born infected. People sleeping all around her. Eyes open, sleep rejected Watching dreamers dreaming but can’t dream or won’t. Eyes red, fierce, gleaming. Girls show fear, boys don’t. Dream all you want, but come up with a plan that’s realistic. Girls wear lipstick; boys are despot dipshits. Boys and girls: dickweeds and prick teases. Way o’ life little girl story of the world. Lights shift back to scene. IPHIGENIA (Reading letter) “They say Iphigenia is coming here And soon will link her destiny with mine.” ELECTRA (Taking letter) The latest love telegram from the front? IPHIGENIA Don’t play—give it back! …And put that out! …come on, Ellie, please—it reeks. And it’s so unbecoming. ELECTRA …But so appropriate. CHRYSOTHEMIS Covers up the other smell, anyway. ELECTRA Jealous much? (CONTINUED) 6. CONTINUED: (4) CHRYSOTHEMIS I’ll have plenty of lovers—when I’m ready. IPHIGENIA Horrible. I should take lessons, though—you’re the master! How do I keep his attention? ELECTRA Advice from Chrysothemis? May the gods help us all. CHRYSOTHEMIS Keep him waiting—dangle a bit in front of him, just out of reach. ELECTRA Our mother’s daughter. IPHIGENIA Dangle? You’re terrible! ELECTRA The prude and the prick tease—fine pair, you two. IPHIGENIA I don’t care. I’m learning my lessons from both little sisters. The action on stage freezes. Lights shift. CHORUS Tell you what my mamma told me scrape your dreams off the floor pick ‘em up if you can carry ’em story of the world: you’re gonna marry a man bear children and bury ‘em you’re gonna marry a man bear children and bury ‘em Lights shift back to scene and action resumes (CONTINUED) 7.