THE ODYSSEY / Stetler
ACT ONE - PROLOGUE
(A huge party at the home of Odysseus, ruler of Ithaca. His wife, Penelope and his son, Telemachus watch from the side. A
ROWDY SONG.)
PARTY GUEST #1: Great party, huh?
PARTY GUEST #2: Sure is. Whose house is this, anyway?
PARTY GUEST #1: You don’t know? Why, man, this is Odysseus’ house.
PARTY GUEST #2: Odysseus?
PARTY GUEST #1: Yup.
PARTY GUEST #2: The Odysseus?
PARTY GUEST #1: Uh, huh.
PARTY GUEST #2: You mean, Odysseus King of Ithaca, Odysseus, husband to the beautiful Penelope and
father to the young Telemachus? Odysseus the warrior who brought about the sack of Troy by creating the
infamous Trojan Horse? Odysseus who…
PARTY GUEST #1: Yup, that’s the one.
PARTY GUEST #2: Wow. Where is he?
PARTY GUEST #1: We’re pretty sure he’s dead.
PARTY GUEST #2: Dead?
PARTY GUEST #1: Yes. The Trojan war has been over for ten years and he still hasn’t come home. Rumor
hast it the god Poseidon sank his ship and he and his crew drowned in the ocean.
PARTY GUEST #2: So, does that mean his wife, Penelope, is single now?
PARTY GUEST #1: It sure does.
PARTY GUEST #2: And whoever she marries will become super, duper rich and powerful?
PARTY GUEST #1: That’s what it means.
PARTY GUEST #2: Where is she? I think I’ll propose to her.
PARTY GUEST #1: Get in line, pal. There’s a sign-up sheet in the kitchen.
PARTY GUEST #2: A sign-up sheet?
PARTY GUEST #1: Yup. In the kitchen. Come on, I’ll show you.
(They exit.)
THE ODYSSEY / Stetler
ACT ONE Scene 1 – THE STRANGER
Sound of waves crashing. (This can be done with the kids emulating the ocean.) Our hero, Odysseus, lays unconscious on the
shore. NAUSICA, daughter of KING ALCINOUS, approaches him carefully.
NAUSICA: Sir? (She pokes his shoulder to see if he’s alive.) Sir? Are you alright?
OLD ODYSSEUS: (Waking with a start) Where am I?
NAUSICA: Oh. You startled me. I thought you were dead. (Regains her composure) You are on the island of
Phaecia.
OLD ODYSSEUS: And who are you?
NAUSICA: My name is Nausica. I am King Al’s daughter.
OLD ODYSSEUS: Al?
NAUSICA: Well, his name is really Alcinous but that’s hard to pronounce so everybody calls him King Al.
What’s your name?
OLD ODYSSEUS: Uh…Nobody.
NAUSICA: Well, if you’re nobody, then I guess I should get going.
OLD ODYSSEUS: Yes, please leave me alone.
NAUSICA: Are you sure you’re okay, Mr. Nobody. You don’t look too good.
OLD ODYSSEUS: I’m perfectly fine, thank you. (He tries to get up but collapses.)
NAUSICA: You don’t seem fine to me. Let me call our servants to help you.
OLD ODYSSEUS: No, thank you. As I said, I’m fine. Tip top shape. Right as rain. (He falls unconscious.)
NAUSICA: Tip top shape, my eye. I better call for help. (Pulls out a horn and blows it.) Don’t you worry,
Mr. Nobody, our servants will bring you back to our kingdom and feed you and wash you and get you all fixed
up.
The servants arrive and carry him to the castle. A SONG. They clean him up, put on a dry set of clothes and bring him to the
King.
THE ODYSSEY / Stetler
ACT ONE Scene 4 – CIRCE
(CIRCE enters with a bunch of pigs.)
YOUNG ODYSSEUS: Who are you?
CIRCE: I am the beautiful witch goddess, Circe.
YOUNG ODYSSEUS: And who are these pigs?
CIRCE: These pigs are what’s left of your scouting party. And now I’m going to turn all of you into pigs, too!!
Ha, ha, ha.
(CIRCE waves her hands in the air and all the men, except ODYSSEUS, turn into pigs.)
CIRCE: (noticing ODYSSEUS hasn’t changed into a pig) Hey, you’re still a man.
(CIRCE waves her arms again. Nothing.)
CIRCE: What’s going on, here?
YOUNG ODYSSEUS: (Drawing his sword and pointing it at her) I am immune to your powers, witch goddess.
CIRCE: Wait a minute. Did Hermes give you a special potion?
YOUNG ODYSSEUS: None of your business, now turn those pigs back into my men.
ODYSSEUS: You’re kind of cute when you get mad.
YOUNG ODYSSEUS: What?
CIRCE: Wanna be my boyfriend, handsome?
YOUNG ODYSSEUS: No, I’m married.
CIRCE: Too bad, cutie pie.
YOUNG ODYSSEUS: My name isn’t cutie-pie. It’s Odysseus. Now turn these pigs back into my men.
CIRCE: Whatever you say, sweet cheeks. (She turns the pigs back into men.) Wanna stay for dinner?
YOUNG ODYSSEUS: No way. We’re outta here.