• Home
  • About Us
  • Lyrics by Anastasia
  • Lyrics by Devon
  • Watch
  • More
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Lyrics by Anastasia
    • Lyrics by Devon
    • Watch
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Lyrics by Anastasia
  • Lyrics by Devon
  • Watch

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



........................................................................................;........................................


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…..

.......................................................................


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,  ..............

...................................................................................



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. 


.......................................................................................






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

..................................................




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.  

................................... 


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, 


.............................................


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

.............................  


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   


.................................................................





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 



            Copyright © 2021 Medusa Music Publishing - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by GoDaddy

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

Accept