The Iliad, The Odyssey, and all of Greek Mythology in 99 Minutes or Less
by Jay Hopkins, John Hunter,
Full Length Play, Comedy / 3m, 2f
On a simple stage, with the clock ticking in front of everyone's eyes, the cast speeds through all of Greek Mythology. Its funny, updated and made easy to understand. All the silly decisions, the absurd destinies, and the goofy characters are presented lightning-bolt fast with hysterical results as the clock is stopped with only seconds to spare.
Read more +The Iliad, The Odyssey, and all of Greek Mythology in 99 Minutes or Less
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Cast Size
3m, 2fDuration
90 minutesSubgenre
Farce, Adaptations (Literature), Period, Parody / SpoofAccolades
Not ApplicableTarget Audience
- Appropriate for all audiences
- Adult
- Pre-Teen (Age 11 - 13)
- Teen (Age 14 - 18)
Additional Info
Reviews
"This riotous distillation of classic Greek mythology and Homer's epic poems takes boldface names from myth and literature and turns them into a thing that would make Cliffs-Notes and Monty Python proud... Hopkins and Hunter use pop culture to spoof some of the more overly dramatic Greek moments and do a wonderful job of picking up on all the things that never made sense in these traditional stories-" - Orlando Sentinel
"Audiences need only laugh to pass this class. The celestial caricatures range from ridiculous (hip-hop Mercury messengers) to sublime (Vulcan is a Spock-eared geek), and there’s no required reading list to understand and enjoy them." - Orlando Weekly
"zippy, silly, and secretly educational... You might have seem other brands of “…in 99 Minutes or Less” plays out there, but after you’ve seen this romp, you’ll never go back." - INK19
“It’s a very funny play that moves at a mile a minute." - Green Bay Press Gazette
Considerations
Performing Groups
- High School/Secondary
- College Theatre / Student
- Community Theatre
- Dinner Theatre
- Professional Theatre
- Large Stage
- Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups
Cautions
- No Special Cautions
License details
- Minimum Fee: $75 per performance
Production
Details
- Time Period: Greek; Roman & Biblical
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Setting: A unit set with areas represented as necessary. A couple of risers, Greek columns, benches, a chair, a few props (necessary for onstage character changes) and of course, a timer.
- Additional Features: Audience Participation/Interactive, Physical Comedy, Puppetry, Stage Combat
Music
- Musical Style: N/A (Not a musical)
Casting
3m, 2fM1 – The more mature and masculine of the three men. A feeling of authority and dignity will help this actor. Key roles are Zeus and Achilles, Old Nestor, Perseus and Old Dog.
M2 – The more impulsive and eager of the three men. His emotional rawness and passion play large parts in his characters. Key roles are Odysseus, Hector and Hera.
M3 – The goofiest and more cartoon-like of the three men. Natural comedic skills are a major plus for this actor playing so many different character parts. Key roles are Hermes, Man, Paris, Agamemnon, Diomedes and Hercules.
F1 – The more mature of the two women. A solid actress with the ability to show wounded emotions and dignity. Key roles are Athena, Demeter, Ms. Henderson, Patroklos and Oracle.
F2 – The more ingénue of the two women. Youthfulness is a help but she still plays older as well. Key roles are Aphrodite, Pandora, Helen of Troy and Old King Priam.
Cast Attributes
- Ensemble cast
- Non-Traditional casting
- Cross gender casting
- Expandable casting
- Flexible casting
- Room for Extras
Casting Notes
The actors will play multiple roles, switching back and forth as necessary, but roles do NOT switch from actor to actor. This script is written for 5 actors (3M, 2F) for the most fun, but can be cast in any combination, and if more actors are cast, roles can be divided accordingly by the director. Actors in a cast of five will each play 18 to 32 characters.
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