THE ODYSSEY – MUSICAL ACT I, SCENE I.
WHAT IS A GOD TO DO?
ZEUS:
WHAT IS A GOD TO DO?
What is a God to do?
No God should have to choose,
who the fairest is, amongst three Goddesses,
with such voluptuous, exotic bodices.
Torn, between my daughter and my wife,
whatever I decide will cause family strife.
If only one I choose to crown,
the other will want me brought down.
My daughter or my wife?
And then off course there is Aphrodite,
oozing sheer sensuality,
lustful carnality, audacious sexuality, BRAZEN ……
‘Zeus …………GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF’ (ZEUS SPEAKS TO HIMSELF)
The bickering will never cease, this golden apple will ruin my peace.
I’ll suggest another judge, on this topic I will not budge.
One word “KALLISTEA “….to the fairest
Engraved on a golden apple ….
APPLE …? Apple? EXCLAMATION
If an apple is involved, mankind will surely lose.
Apple…. that fruit has females so confused,
and now it will keep the Gods amused. (LAUGHS)
Let the judge be a mortal, I’ll watch from my lofty portal,
how three goddesses’ vanity
WILL DROWN US IN CHAOS AND INSANITY.
WHAT IS A GOD TO DO? CHORUS
TO DO OR NOT TO DO?
A QUESTION UNANSWERABLE BY ME AND YOU,
WHAT IS A GOD TO DO?
kallistea - background refrain
THE DILEMMA
Three goddesses are arguing over the inscription on the golden apple with the words to the fairest inscribed on the apple.
Hera, Athena and Aphrodite demand that Zeus decides who is the fairest.
JUDGEMENT OF PARIS
ATHENA
Mighty Zeus found a devious way out, afraid of the consequences no
doubt.
A mortal judge was easily found, supposed to be fair and world renowned,
The competition was on, Paris could not decide, so we three bribed and
connived.
ATHENA
Hera promised him kingship over all the world.
I promised him wisdom, knowledge and unbeatable war skills,
he would have an advantage in all fields,
he would be INCOMPARABLE,
but the dolt chose to be blinded by Aphrodite, who offered him a woman.
A WOMAN! And a married one at that! – HELEN- daughter of Zeus.”
CHORUS
A woman, a woman so ripe, this will lead to a fight.
A woman, a married one at that, this will lead to a spat,
We all know a man cannot think further than his….
YOU GET THE PICTURE!
YOU GET THE PICTURE!
THE SEEDS TO WAR
Paris is stunned by the other worldly beauty of the Goddesses and simply stares not able to decide who the fairest is amongst them.
They strip, but still he stares and cannot decide
So, each goddess offers Paris a bribe in order to win the title of the fairest and the golden apple
Hera: promises political power - king of Europe and Asia
Athena: wisdom and skill in war – he will be a man of incomparable skills and ability.
Aphrodite: Promises Paris the most beautiful woman in the world.
Paris chooses Aphrodite ….seeds to the Trojan war have just been sown.
ACT I, SCENE II
THE OATH
ATHENA - THE OATH
“Let me tell you the background story, a story that took place long
before Paris’s biased decision and ultimately led to the destruction of Troy.
CHORUS
THE DOWNFALL OF MANY A MAN IS A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
The princes and nobles of all Hellas, gathered in Sparta to compete for that girl- HELEN
Amongst the princes one stood out, Odysseus, my favourite without a doubt,
blessed in abundance with cunning, intelligence and ingenuity.
I ensured life took its own course.
A young girl walked past and I ensured she left Odysseus aghast.
Helen became just a name, forgotten and in the past.
PENELOPE
My heart skipped a beat,
I’ll never accept defeat
I’ll make him fall in love with me
I have found the one for me,
Save him from that stupid spree
I need him to see there is only me.
He will fall in love with me
It’s written in the stars.
ODYSSEUS
YOU, are so beautiful, so heavenly, you woke me from a sleepy reverie.
You changed my path today, threw all my plans in disarray,
it’s written in the stars that is clear, I cannot think straight when you are near,
you take my breath away.
“WHAT IS YOUR NAME?”
PENELOPE
“Penelope”
ODYSSEUS
“I am Odysseus”
PENELOPE
“I KNOW”
THE OATH
Kings, princes, chiefs and nobles have all gathered to claim Helen’s hand in marriage. Fierce competition is taking place as to which man will succeed.
Amongst them is the young prince of Ithaca – Odysseus.
Men arguing in the background.
In the foreground a young girl walks past - Penelope.
Odysseus sees her and is struck by cupids’ arrow – he leaves the group and begins to follow her.
SKY STARTLED BY STARS
CHORUS - GODS
Sky startled by stars, sky startled by stars
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ODYSSEUS AND PENELOPE
A duet expressing love
What do I want, how do I get it?
ODYSSEUS
“I want to marry Penelope …. How do I get her father to agree?”
What do I want, how do I get it?
A question open to............
CHORUS
In order to advance take a chance.
Make your dreams come true, It’s up to you (x2)
CHORUS – GODS
NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER GIVE UP
What you get and how you get it, Is up to you (X2)
ACT I, SCENE III
A GUEST IS TREATED LIKE A KING
ATHENA
Odysseus devised a plan, he suggested that Helen be given to an older man.
CHORUS
One that has the maturity to put up with her immaturity, her vanity,
her need for admiration, her need for adoration…adulation…exaltation …
glorification…. idolization……VENERATION
“All the suitors agreed, and took a binding oath, swearing allegiance to the
protection of the union.
Odysseus got his way. His reward was Penelope!”
ATHENA
Capricious Aphrodite kept her word, what trouble has she stirred,
Paris was sent as an emissary, to the palace of Helen and Menelaus.
CHORUS
A guest is treated like a king,
that does not mean the hosts wife’s is available for a fling
CHORUS - GODS
Rules of hospitality are golden and supreme, do be do be do.
GONE,GONE TO WAR
GONE TO WAR
WOMEN OF HELLAS – (three women that sing )
CHORUS– sung by all the women
Gone, gone to war,
Gone, gone to war,
to a distant shore,
Gone, gone to war,
WOMAN 1
The cream of all our best, for an overripe woman’s jest
our fathers, our brothers, our husbands, our sons,
far away to be bludgeoned, far away to be BLOODIED and…..
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ACT I, SCENE IV
THE HORSE OF DECEIT
ZEUS CHORUS – MEN ONLY
“Acts of bravery, acts of brutality war, war
Troy, a field of decay a blood bath of shame.
Almost ten years battle after battle,
deaths dark shroud collected sins so foul,
Aias the great, Diomedes …Achilles.
Brave Hector slain, hero after hero, the lists of dead endless
ON AND ON AND ON”
ATHENA
Troy’s walls are proving impenetrable, winning is no longer inevitable.
This war HAS TO END.
ATHENA TO ODYSSEUS whispers to Odysseus
“You need a ruse, one that will capture the imagination and bring Troy
down, bring this war to its culmination.”
ODYSSEUS: A HORSE
“How do we bring Troy down? ............................
VERGE OF DESTRUCTION
CASSANDRA
(FIRST VERSE SUNG IN A HYSTERICAL WAY. CASSANDRA RUNS FROM PERSON TO PERSON IMPLORING THEM TO LISTEN TO HER)
CASSANDRA
You sing and dance, omens ignore, you think I am a virginal bore.
You laugh at all warnings, ignore sage advice,
don’t listen to counsel from the wise,
believe every distraction, sing in celebration.
This horse, a decoy …Troy will destroy.
GROUP OF TROJANS
“Cassandra is lost in her rantings again”
Cassandra turns to the audience with great sadness and three people from group join her - the prophet and his two sons …..the four of them sing the Chorus.
Cassandra sings the verses on her own.
WAR, SPECTRE OF WAR
War, no end to death, horror and gore.
War, so evil, a harbinger so deceitful,
all we hold dear razed to the ground, only ruins forever to be found.
Our best torn to pieces, die for a foil, on cursed blood-soaked soil,
War, Spectre of war, war .................................
WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF DESTRUCTION.
MEN OF DISHONOUR
CASSANDRA - AT THE TEMPLE (praying)
“Athena great Goddess save me. Troy is burning. Men are filled with blood
lust bent on destruction”
HELLENES ENTER THE TEMPLE; CASSANDRA GETS UP AND FACES THEM.
CASSANDRA
‘You men of war, your children will suffer for centuries
This conflict between east and west …..will never end”
CASSANDRA GETS INTERUPTED, AIAS GRABS HER AND RAPES HER
CASSANDRA SCREAMING
“No …no I am a virgin this is sacred ground you can’t touch me’
CASSANDRA GETS UP ON HER KNEES AND WHISPERS
MEN OF DISHONOUR
Men of dishonour, predators by nature, you’ll encounter every misfortune,........
CASSANDRA IS DUMPED WITH ALL THE OTHER OBJECTS, BOOTY ETC
Defiling the sacred, defiling a woman!
Actions so very inhuman
They’ll be etched in your mind, PEACE, you will never find.
HELLENES (men sing- fast pace)
WE TOOK IT ALL
Burnt, razed, shattered, smashed, pillaged, plundered ….SACKED.
Booty for all, we watched Troy fall.
We took it all, we took it all.
We took their women, we took it all, we watched Troy fall.
Burnt, razed, shattered, smashed, pillaged, plundered….SACKED.
Jewels, silver and gold, booty for all, we took it all.
We watched Troy fall, we watched Troy fall.
GODS
You went too far, left a land blackened and scarred.
Temples destroyed, dishonoured the sacred,
raped, pillaged, you lost all heart, tore children apart.
You broke all the rules, forgot your humanity.
We witnessed insanity.
You will be punished.
ACT I, SCENE V
ISMARUS
MEN
Howling winds blew us off course, we landed on sunny ISMARUS,
It became part of the journey, so without remorse
we took it without a thought, we took it by force…
We sacked that city, we felt no pity,
we killed the men, took their wealth, took their women,
shared the booty, forgot our duty, ..............
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We sailed away with empty hands and the loss of friends.
Woe…. Woe……
ODYSSEUS
Men slain, lost MOST of what we gained,
left behind, strewn on the sand, while we bolted and ran.
Stupid, mutinous fools.
MEN
Demonic gale winds, tore our sails,
left us rudderless and so frail.
we put up a fight, two days, two nights,
ah almost home.
How the God’s enjoy to tease!
The wind started to blow, tossed us to and fro.
Hurricane winds blew us here and there,
nine days, nine nights we were thrown everywhere
wave after wave, need to be brave, our lives to save.
ODYSSEUS
Finally, we beached on some strange sand.
I sent some of my men to search this land.
THEY NEVER CAME BACK, we thought beware
We found them singing and laughing without a care.
OBLIVION …… FLOWER OF THE LOTUS, HOCUS, POCUS
sung by CHORUS OF MEN and three of Odysseus men.
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They just want LOTUS, LOTUS, LOTUS, LET’S TAKE THEM AWAY
INTERACTIONS -MEN AND ODYSSEUS – THE ENCOUNTER WITH THE CYCLOPS
INTERACTIONS -MEN AND ODYSSEUS – THE ENCOUNTER WITH THE CYCLOPS
ODYSSEUS
Wild, lush, fertile, abundant, verdant, SINGS with gusto
virginal land unfettered by human hand,
frolicking goats, sheep and lamb.
“A cave, what manner of man lives in a cave?” SOFTLY SPOKEN
Ah cheese, Heavenly cheese,
Camembert, feta, cheddar and brie
SINGS
“A thunderous voice, run, hide WHISPERS
Craggy mountainous giant,
IS that an eye in the middle of the forehead?
hide, hide, hide.” COMMANDS
CYCLOPS
I smell human animal in my cave, aren’t I a lucky knave.
human brains and blood, oh what an appetising smell,
such delicacy, I am in for a feast, my day ends well.
Licks his fingers
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CYCLOPS
You SPINELESS Puny good for nothing,
Stun me with wine and gouge out my eye.
“Father Poseidon avenge me.
HIS NAME IS ODYSSEUS, SON OF LAERTES
A puny little man full of lies and tricks
Never allow him to reach home and if he does let him be a broken man
With no shipmates in a stranger’s ship
let him find a world of pain.”
ODYSSEUS
We were free
Who would have known the price we would pay?
Who would have known?
Lost SIX of my men …… some of my best,….to that oaf.
Chorus
The one- eyed oaf had a feast
THE FUN IS KEPT IN HOUSE
MEN
Woe, …woe. …. row, …row, …. tears, loss……
silence and despair,
fear beyond repair
SCARED, VEXED……..What next?
Is it a boom, or do we face our doom?
The perfect host AEOLUS the master of the winds.
We spent a month eating and drinking,
witnessed some strange customs,
the fun is kept inhouse,
his children intermarry… let’s not tarry.
We left loaded ….…come …… hurry.
ONE OF THE MEN SING
Odysseus was given a gift, a simple leather sack,
tied with a pure silver cord, he hid it behind his back.
I WONDER WHAT IS IN IT?
ODYSSEUS
Gentle, gentle breeze, we sailed away with ease,
Nine days…. nine nights, I watched my men one and all,
Made sure they followed my rules and call.
I saw my beloved land my isle of emerald green,
exhausted, I smile, I fall asleep.
MEN
We are almost home ,the place that feeds our soul
Row, row, row, row
MAN
That sack so unpretentious tied with a pure silver cord,
must be full of silver and gold …a secret hoard.
We’ve risked our lives for nothing, Time for our reward
MAN OPENS BAG …..GALE FORCE WINDS DRIVE THE SHIPS AWAY
ODYSSEUS SCREAMING
“Greed, you stupid brainless idiot…. you have destroyed us.
That sack ensured that we would encounter gentle breezes
so that we could get back home.
It was good Aeolus’s gift to us,
the winds were held in check, tied securely in that sack.
We are done for. Oh, what’s the point?”
MEN
WOE, …woe, …A WHIRLPOOL OF DESPAIR,
Screaming, maniacal winds, lashing, …slashing, …bashing,
took us away, it all came crashing.
We landed back on the wind God’s Isle.
AEOLUS
You are back? Go …go leave my Isle, never come back.
You are wretched sods, detested by the Gods
Punished for crimes …. Go …go …I want nothing to do with any of you.
ODYSSEUS
Alone, …I stand alone….
I stand alone
Through all the highs and all the lows,
I stand alone,
beaten by greed, human folly, no use to moan
Alone …. I stand alone.
ALONE…ALONE…ALONE
I STAND ALONE.
How do I get my men and my ships back home? (SPOKEN)
LAESTRYGONIANS
MEN
Days and nights, nights and days
thunder, lighting, storms, rain and hail, while we tried to sail.
We found this protected, peaceful bay
SAVED…
Thank the Gods, it’s a blessed day.
ODYSSEUS
Eleven ships … sailed into that bay.
We threw caution away.
Laestrygonians ….Giants With no human attributes
Craggy, ugly hideous brutes.
Brutality is their idea of hospitality,
Guests get ripped apart to be eaten as a delicacy.
I watched them spear my men like fish, to be served as an exotic dish
My ship, only mine survived that day
my men heaving tears sailed away.
I don’t want to think of that dark, vile day
CIRCE
ODYSSEUS AND HIS MEN
MEN
Disheartened, the rain and the wind howl, it’s all turned foul.
We were blown left and right, blown, til we lost our sight.
Landed on an island dell, trying so hard our fear to quell.
ODYSSEUS
“It’s time to find what manner of man lives here
We’ll split in two groups, caution will be our rule”
EURYLACHOS
“LET’S GO time to explore!
Strange …weird, fierce Wild animals want to play
They want to be petted and stroked.
Lions and wolves, this is strange
WAIT I HEAR SOMETHING”
A melodious voice, enchanting,
A WOMAN, no, a Goddess so inviting, TEMPTING.
CIRCE (FEMME FATALE) Sweet tempting voice
..........
ODYSSEUS
“WHAT HAPPENED…WHERE ARE THE MEN?”
EURYLACHOS
“Odysseus she’s a witch, an enchantress …let’s go,
She’ll turn you into a porker, left in heat with no possible treat.
let’s go!
HER NAME IS CIRCE!”
ODYSSEUS
GO! …go? and leave half my men behind, you’ve lost your mind
An enchantress….she may be quiet a find .
ATHENA
“Hermes quick go save that fool …
Circe will have her way, she’ll turn him into another porker”
HERMES TO ODYSSEUS
Odysseus, don’t start a trend, you’ll be penned,
you’ll have no say, Circe will have her way.
Take this herb it called MOLY… Holy moly(refrain)
it offers protection from her spells, ensures satisfaction.
..............
................................... She’s a Goddess …. take it from me
like women everywhere, she’ll devise another snare.
CHORUS
WOMEN, WOMEN EVERYWHERE
ODYSSEUS
How can I resist sage advice from the Gods?
I am but a mere man.
So, I followed instructions,
Holy moly a delightful find, whew what a ride.
Holy moly …..Holy moly …my seamen I freed.
CIRCE’S ISLAND OF BLISS
THE MEN IN DISCUSSION
“ONE YEAR HAS GONE BY AND WE ARE STUCK HERE ON THIS ISLAND WITH THE ENCHANTRESS CIRCE …ITS TIME TO GO HOME”
Sung by the freed men
Odysseus, Circe has you under her spell.
All you want is more of her heavenly dell,
All you think of is leisure and pleasure,
All we hear is ecstatic groans and moans,
It’s time to go home.
HELLAS sung by men
Home, to our emerald green isle,..............................................................................................
Odysseus goes to Circe to take his leave.
CIRCE - FAREWELL
The time has come for us to part ….goodbye
I see it in the shadows hidden in your eyes.
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CIRCE
“ODYSSEUS….MY LOVER HEED SOME ADVICE”
This journey back home fraught with danger is yours to take,
you can’t be held back for my sake.
You’ll face a challenge or two, your men depend on you.
It will test your endurance, your skills, your wits
you have a thankless task, there will be no glory in which to bask.
I wish you well.
ODDYSEUS AND HIS MEN LEAVE
CIRCE (left alone sings)
In my thoughts I’ll remember you so fondly,
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ODYSEUS IN HIS BOAT ….HEARS CIRCES ADVICE …..SHE IS NOT SEEN BUT HEARD AS BACKGROUND
HADES
CIRCE
YOUR First stop -WHERE HADES RULES”
But PERSEPHONE IS QUEEN – THE UNDERWOLD.
A river of souls float aimlessly.
You’ll face some old friends and foes.
The seer will advise you as to the best way back home,
while the wind, the rain and storms whip the sea into frothy foam.
“ REMEMBER POSEIDON IS YOUR FOE
CYCLOPS THAT MONSTER IS HIS SON
YOU WILL BE PUNISHED!”
ODYSSEUS
We travelled to the depths of Hades
aimless souls, floating,
rich men ..poor men …no one boasting,
sad laments of life lost,
life … life is what they miss most.
AIMLESS SOULS
When Hades Calls, there’s no more time to contemplate your fate ….it’s too late
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ODYSSEUS
“THE SEER TIRESIAS GAVE ME ADVICE AS TO THE BEST WAY HOME”
THE SIRENS
CIRCE heard in the background
Odysseus, you’ll encounter danger night and day.
Avoid the ravenous sisters, and their enchanting ways.
The Sirens serenade ……
ODYSSEUS
“Men I have been forewarned by the Seer and Circe to avoid the Sirens “
The Sirens sweetly serenade, plug your ears with wax
“I WILL HOWEVER ENJOY THE SERENADE” SPOKEN TO AUDIENCE
THE SIRENS
SIREN 1
“Sister I SEE A SHIP ON THE HORIZON” screeching
SIREN 2
“FRESH MEAT IN THE DISTANCE TIME TO LURE THEM”
“LET’S SING SISTER…. SING”
Come to us …Come to us … your soul will find peace,
enchantment in a life of ease.
You’ll find all you need on our island dell,
a haven of serenity…….serenity , serenity (refrain)
CHORUS
Serenade …Serenade…. Serenade wishes made on falling stars
Silver dreams, desires and needs, Serenade ….serenade …serenade
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CHORUS - GODS
Softly …sweetly they entice softly …sweetly they mesmerise
Softly, sweetly they beckon, they lure
Softly, sweetly they entice, softly, sweetly they splice
And eat you like mice
Chorus
women, women everywhere offering another snare
SIREN 1
SISTER WE HAVE FAILED