The play is based on The Heroides of Ovid. The Heroides are written in the form of a series of letters written by heroines of Greek and Roman mythology to the heroes that they are paired with in myth. For example Medea and Jason, Ariadne and Theseus. In many of these myths and legends the heroines are mistreated, abused and abandoned by the heroes, which is treated as normal and par for the course by those telling the tale. The story tellers were less than sympathetic in most cases when these women responded to this treatment by at best socially unacceptable behaviour and at worst infanticide; as in the case of Medea. What is interesting about The Heroides is that Ovid displays sensitivity to the psychology of these women and how the treatment they received at the hands of these heroes affected them. The letters of this selection that I have chosen for my play are Briseis to Achilles, Hermione to Orestes and Helen to Paris.
Well, that's how it started. It's evolved into a play about the Trojan War and the effects of war on women.
It's actually pretty brutal in some parts, which surprised me, I didn't know I could be so brutal, but it's a play about war so I guess it's not surprising.
The lights on stage dim except for one spotlight that shines from the foot of the stage diagonally across the stage onto the screen at the back of the stage. A siren sounds and suddenly there is the noise of war, choppers, the sounds of battle, bombs dropping and screaming. A particularly loud crash and the sound of crumbling masonry is heard. The lights go on and the spotlight goes off. The screen shows a destroyed city street. Achilles stands over the bodies of two people centre stage, a sword sticks out of the mans chest who is spread eagled on the ground. A woman, Briseis, is huddled off to the side on the ground, crying.
Achilles grasps the handle of the sword and pulls it out of the mans chest. It comes away bloody. Achilles points it Briseis.
Achilles: You, get up.
Briseis whimpers but makes no move to stand.
Achilles nudges her shoulder with the edge of the sword.
Achilles: Get up I said.
A man enters behind Achilles.
Man: The town is ours lord.
Achilles smiles. He grasps Briseis by her shoulder and forces her to her feet. He grabs her chin in his hand and forces her to look at him. He leers at her. Achilles shoves her towards the man standing behind and to the right of him.
Achilles: Take her to my tent. And have her wash.
The man takes hold of Briseis’ elbow and pulls her off the stage. Achilles stands where he is for a moment, smiling, and then turns and walks off stage. Some soldiers come and carry the bodies off stage, a curtain falls in front of the screen at the back of the stage and two strips of fabric fall down from the roof of the stage, to make it appear as though it were a tent, other soldiers bring in bedding and make a bed on the floor.
The soldier and Briseis enter from the front of the stage and walk into what appears to be the tent. The soldier still has a hold of Briseis arm. He throws her forward, she stumbles then stands in the corner.
Soldier: Wait here for lord Achilles.
Another soldier brings a bowl, a jug of water and a face cloth and set it on the ground then exits.
Soldier: Make sure you wash like, like he said.
The soldier exits. Briseis stands shivering in the corner for a moment then slowly walks over to the wash bowl. She pours some water into the bowl, dips the cloth into the water and slowly washes her face and arms and the back of her neck.
A shout can be heard from off stage and Achilles enters. He strides over to the tent and walks in. Briseis drops the wash cloth back into the bowl and scuttles to the back of the tent, she crouches down. Achilles stands and looks at her for a few moments.
Achilles: Come here.
Briseis cowers at the back of the tent, making no move to come forward. Achilles laughs. He walks over to the back of the tent and hauls her to her feet. Briseis cries out.
Achilles turns her so that they are both standing side on to the audience. He lifts a hand towards her face and Briseis jerks her head back as though he were going to hit her. Achilles laughs again and gently tucks her hair behind her ear.
Achilles: What are you afraid of woman? I will not make you do anything you do not wish to do.
As he says this he grasps her hair and pulls it back sharply, dragging her head back. He kisses her roughly on the mouth.
He lets her go and she whimpers again but does not move. Achilles smiles at her.
Achilles: There now, that wasn’t that bad was it?
Briseis looks at the floor but does not answer. Achilles slaps her suddenly across her face.
Achilles: Answer me wench.
He grasps her jaw and forces her face up so that she is looking at him.
Briseis shakes her head.
Briseis: No, no sir.
Achilles: There, that’s better.
Once again Achilles pulls her hair back and kisses her roughly, he puts his hand over her breast. Briseis tries to move her body backwards away from him but he grabs her round the waist and pulls her close, shoving his knee between her thighs he breaks off the kiss and Briseis gasps.
Achilles: Where do you think you’re going?
Achilles shoves Briseis and she falls onto the bed. Achilles smiles as he looks down at her. Briseis cowers on the bed, staring up at Achilles. He walks over the bed, taking her by the shoulders her pushes her back, almost gently onto the bed. Briseis whimpers again, but lets Achilles lay her down. Achilles begins to undo his belt buckle and the lights go black.
The lights come up on stage. Briseis sits in the middle of the bed, her legs curled up against her chest. She is rocking.
Achilles and a soldier walk on stage.
Achilles: These Trojans give little resistance it seems. These skirmishes win us booty and renown but the sons of Atreus are not content. Until we reach that city of Priam they will be not be happy. So we must go, the king of Mycenae has summoned us to council. Ready the men and horses, we leave at first light.
Achilles pulls aside the tent wall and walks into the tent. Briseis looks up as he enters. She cowers in the bed, but doesn’t move.
Achilles looks at her for a moment then sits on the edge of the bed and begins to take his boots off.
Achilles: We go to meet with the other Achean kings tomorrow. We leave at first light.
Achilles looks at Briseis who stares at him, he continues to take his boots off.
Achilles: Wash my feet.
Briseis walks to the jug and bowl. She pours water into the bowl, picks up a towel and brings the bowl and towel over to where Achilles sits and kneels in front of him. Achilles places his boots against the edge of the bed. Briseis places the bowl next to the boots and begins washing Achilles’ feet. She only looks at his feet. Achilles leans back and closes his eyes as Briseis washes his feet. He sits like this for a moment and then sits up straighter. Achilles looks down at Briseis, he places his finger under her chin and pushes her head up so that she looks into his face. They look at each other for a moment.
Briseis: Forgive me lord, but where do we go?
Achilles: We go to a council of war.
Briseis: Will I - do you want - am I to accompany you?
Achilles: For the moment.
Briseis stares at Achilles. Achilles kisses her. The lights begin slowly dimming.
Achilles: You are a beautiful woman, show me what you will do for a man.
Achilles grasps her breast and kisses her again.
Briseis drops the towel into the towel and places her hands on Achilles thighs.
Achilles pulls away from her and grasps her under the arms, he hauls her up and pulls her as he leans backwards onto the bed, Briseis is pulled roughly on top of him. The lights are now very dim so that figures of Achilles and Briseis are mostly obscured. They move for a little while (noises, groans and moans?). After a while the movement and noises (?) stop. The lights come back up on stage in a morning light. Achilles wakes and stands. He picks his cloak up from beside the bed and drapes it around his shoulders. Achilles looks down at Briseis for a moment. He nudges her shoulder with his foot. She stirs.
Achilles: Get up. We are leaving.
Briseis wakes as Achilles turns and walks out of the tent.
Briseis stands.
A woman enters the tent. Brisies looks up, startled.
Woman: Come, it is time to depart. Help me to pack the lord’s things away.
Briseis: But what about my lord. Should I not go with him?
Woman looks at Briseis in surprise and shakes her head.
Woman: Your lord?! For now you travel with us.
Briseis: Us?
Woman: It is better that you accept things as they are. The lord Achilles will call for you if he wants you. Until then you serve in other ways. Help me pack this tent away and I will show you.
The woman begins rolling the bedding up. Briseis stands staring at her for a moment a looks of horror and shock on her face. After a moment she begins helping the woman. They pack away everything in the tent and then the tent in silence. Once everything is packed into backpacks they put them on their backs. The woman gestures to Briseis and they exit the stage.
