Overview

This week, students will split into 4 groups of 4, and each group will act out a modern rendition of a section from Lysistrata, spanning roughly 5-10 minutes of speaking. Think of modern equivalents of Athens and Sparta, the war between them, and The Acropolis, as well as more mundane details like "olive wood" and various gods. Though this play is relatively vulgar as part of the humor, groups 1-3 have relatively tame sections. However, group 4 will have an interesting challenge in translating to more tame and "PG" concepts.

Beyond the above, think also about who you might cast into the different roles, if you're into pop culture and actors. Have fun with this!

Learning Goals

• Connect with a text through speaking, in addition to reading/writing
• Identify aspects of a satirical play that transcend an ancient context
• Leverage creativity in a translation exercise from ancient to modern

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Sections

Below are the sections that will be assigned to the groups (page numbers/section numbers according to the CIE reader)

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Group 1

Page 18 in section [250], right after "the women enter the citadel," roughly up to "the old men stack their logs in a pile" on pg. 21 (end of [350])

Cast of characters

• Leader of men's chorus
• Chorus of old men (several studetns can trade off here)

Examples of aspects to modernize

• Lugging fresh-cut olive wood

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Group 2

Right before the beginning of [510] on pg. 33 where the magistrate says "You - talk to me", up to where Lysistrata says "very easily" at the top of pg. 37.

Cast of characters

• Lysistrata
• Magistrate
• Women's chorus
• Old woman A / leader of women's chorus (this person can double up)

Examples of aspects to modernize

• War, stupid projects, armed with spears/helmets, carrying Gorgon shield, purchasing tiny litttle birds, etc

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Group 3

Around the beginning of [720] on pg. 44, where Lysistrata says "What's the point of calling Zeus?" up to [780] on pg. 48, at the end of Lysistrata's section "it will be a shame if we don't live up to this prophecy."

Cast of characters

• Lysistrata
• Woman A / woman D (one student doubles up)
• Woman B
• Woman C

Examples of aspects to modernize

• Various goddesses and chores that allegedly need to get done urgently

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Group 4

On pg. 69 right after the beginning of [1120], where it says Reconciliation leads the Athenians over to Lysistrata, up to pg. 73 where it says "All right by Zeus, as fast as we can go."

NOTE: Compared to other groups, this group will have an additional challenge of making the content PG. This will require some more creativity, but it has the potential to be hilarious

Cast of characters

• Lysistrata (can be split between two students in the first half and the second half)
• Athenian Ambassador
• Spartan Ambassador

Examples of aspects to modernize / make PG

• "Reconciliation" and her various body parts, Pylos, Echinous and the Melian Gulf

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Evaluation

Below are the categories to which points are assigned

Category	Goal
Modern translations and overall concept (5 points)	Did you translate an adequate amount over to a modern context? Are the pop culture / modern references accurate; that is, do they preserve the point of your section in the play?
Entertainment value (2 points)	Was it playful/funny/creative?
Overall performance (3 points)	Was it lively and evident that it had been rehearsed at least twice?