Name: PERSAE
SKU: ASC-888
Price: 5.40 AUD
Availability: InStock

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PERSAE

$5.40 – $15.00

Aesychlus' classical epic, The Persians, gets a radical reworking for the age of embedded journalism and the war on terror.
'The Persians' have invaded Greece - or, rather, the US has invaded Persia - and the war isn't going well. Interviewed live by NBC, Queen Atossa/Barbara Bush can't help admitting to dreams about destruction, while the war-mutilated soldier she's supposed to pin a medal on reveals the horror behind his 'heroism'. As the body count mounts 'in deference of our freedom', the play asks, in turns darkly comic as well as tragic, 'Has anyone noticed there's a war on?'

'The playwright has taken the time to work on getting her point across with as much force as she can, but it is not a noticeable force: it is subtle, and it creeps up until it hits you in the face. Everyone should see it.'

Marian Cara, Tertangala

Form/Style: classical adaptation/expressionism/black tragi-com
Length in minutes: 60
Cast: 8 total
Roles: 3 female identifying, 5 male identifying
Cast age groups: 16 to 18, 18+
Audience age: young adult, adult
Publisher: Australian Script Centre

MONOLOGUES
PRODUCTION HISTORY

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Melanie

Female | Unspecified | under 3 minutes
Starts on page 46

EXTRACT: Dad...! Oh God! Oh god, oh god! He bleeds. My father bleeds. Goodly leader of civil government, all-powerful protector! He shows the world armies worthy of our reputation, our civil institutions. He bleeds! He towers in strength, regulates the state - returns our men from war, unworn and scatheless to happy homes. Should I cry for help? Father? No breath! Father? Father?!

Adult themes

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