The Penelopiad (2012)

Poster by Adam Crook

by Margaret Atwood

Directed by Adam Crook

Performances: 8pm, Tue 1st to Sat 7th of April 2012, Bell Theatre

Introduction

In Homer’s account in The Odyssey, Penelope – wife of Odysseus and cousin of the beautiful Helen of Troy — is portrayed as the quintessential faithful wife, her story a salutary lesson through the ages. Left alone for twenty years when Odysseus goes off to fight in the Trojan war after the abduction of Helen, Penelope manages, in the face of scandalous rumours, to maintain the kingdom of Ithaca, bring up her wayward son, and keep over a hundred suitors at bay, simultaneously. When Odysseus finally comes home after enduring hardships, overcoming monsters and sleeping with goddesses, he kills her suitors and — curiously — twelve of her maids.

In a splendid contemporary twist to the ancient story, Margaret Atwood has chosen to give the telling of it to Penelope and to her twelve hanged Maids, asking: ‘What led to the hanging of the maids, and what was Penelope really up to?’ In Atwood’s dazzling, playful retelling, the story becomes as wise and compassionate as it is haunting, and as wildly entertaining as it is disturbing. With wit and verve, Penelope is given new life and reality — and sets out to provide an answer to an ancient mystery.

Cast

• Penelope - Victoria Arter-Furlong

• Maid / Odysseus - Natalie Allison

• Maid / Eurycleia - Caroline Durant

• Maid / Helen - Catriona Laing

• Maid / Telemachus - Alison Rogers

• Maid / Laertes / Suitor - Fiona Daffern

• Maid / Anticleia - Haidee Harrison

• Maid / Icarius / Suitor - Siobhan Campbell

• Maid / Naiad Mother - Alexandra Apostolou

• Maid / Oracle - Sibylla Archdale Kalid

• Maid / Suitor - Anthea Martin

• Maid - Frances Bain

• Maid - Roz Jones

Crew

• Assistant Director - Lisa Thomas
• Stage Manager - SM Name
• Assistant Stage Manager
• Lighting Design -
• Lighting Operator - Operator Name

Reviews

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References

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