Lysistrata 2000

ANCIENT GREECE WITH A MODERN TWIST

            As I began this challenging and entertaining project, I knew that I wanted to use the traditional silhouette of Ancient Greek clothing for this comedy. The challenge was combining the traditional Greek with the modern translation of the script. In the world of this play, where women were traditionally an object of adornment, I chose to promote this idea by dressing the women of Athens as the flowers and blooms of the garden, while the men of Athens were the greenery surrounding them. In order to keep and deal with the humor, sexual innuendo, and body humor of the script, the director chose to portray things in an overstated and exaggerated scale and theatrical style. Body parts are of such a comical scale, that there is no doubt as to what they are. Modern leopard prints, gingham checks, and silks in heightened colors used in the show are not quite what comes to mind when one thinks of Ancient Greece. The look is that of a group of amateur players who have put this play together, promoting the idea of peace, while showing how absurd humankind can be.