The Bacchae is a Greek tragedy written by Euripides. It is the story of King Pentheus who refuses piety to the god, Dionysus, which ultimately leads to his death. This play is in conjunction with City Dionysia, a city-wide time of festivities, art, music and wine.
This play will be done theatre-in-the round style, with live and original music from several students in the music department. The show will be a graphic one; sensual, dismembering and bloody.
The starting steps are to understand the characters, as well as the text. Before any action is started, research must be completed. Pronunciation of words, settings and of course character analysis. Below are descriptions of the some of the main characters from the actors themselves.
From Joy to the World, The Lord has Come
“Dionysos is the son of Zeus himself, King of the Gods. He is born of a mortal woman named Semele in Thebes, Greece. After his birth he is placed in hiding for his protection. By the time he reaches maturation he is at the height of his ministry and traveling throughout the Middle East gathering his loving disciples (the Chorus). “
-Benjamin Bonenfant
From A Case for Pentheus
“It's easy to look at Pentheus as sort of a jerk—his temper is well-known and feared throughout the Greek city-state, and his stubborn refusal to accept Dionysos—the god who started all this mess and happens to be Pentheus' cousin—flies in the face of reason at the end of all. Still, Pentheus is doing what any of us would do if our family and livelihoods were put in peril.”
-Greg Reiley
From Thine Will be Done
“Like any devout followers, the chorus loves to share the stories of Dionysus’ birth, power and might. They are wholly committed and completely in worship; at a touch they are gentle, love-struck fawns; at a call they are savage warriors, and at a command, they are ready to die.
-Danielle Doyle
From Joy to the World, The Lord has Come
“Dionysos is the son of Zeus himself, King of the Gods. He is born of a mortal woman named Semele in Thebes, Greece. After his birth he is placed in hiding for his protection. By the time he reaches maturation he is at the height of his ministry and traveling throughout the Middle East gathering his loving disciples (the Chorus). “
-Benjamin Bonenfant
From A Case for Pentheus
“It's easy to look at Pentheus as sort of a jerk—his temper is well-known and feared throughout the Greek city-state, and his stubborn refusal to accept Dionysos—the god who started all this mess and happens to be Pentheus' cousin—flies in the face of reason at the end of all. Still, Pentheus is doing what any of us would do if our family and livelihoods were put in peril.”
-Greg Reiley
From Thine Will be Done
“Like any devout followers, the chorus loves to share the stories of Dionysus’ birth, power and might. They are wholly committed and completely in worship; at a touch they are gentle, love-struck fawns; at a call they are savage warriors, and at a command, they are ready to die.
-Danielle Doyle
The actors must study the roles, talk about what is to be portrayed with the director first. Questions he may ask; "Where is this located, who are you talking to? How does your character feel? What happened in the scene before this?" Perhaps in the text, those answers are told, perhaps all actors and director must come together and talk to derive an answer from the context. Either way, the bookwork must take place first. The more that is known, the eaiser the characters and text will be to portray.
Next Post: On Its Feet
“What is wisdom? Or what gift from the god’s is sweeter in man’s opinion than to hold the upper hand over a fallen foe? Why, tis’ a thing of beauty, and a joy forever.”
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