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BROMWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (214) Telephone: Mr. Jonathan Wolfer, Principal |
FATHERS, DAUGHTERS, AND GODDESSES Introduction: This piece combines short scenes from three of Shakespeare's later plays, which are known for having similar themes -- in this case, supernatural forces help restore families that have been struck by tragedy. Part One Pericles, Act V, Scene I Pericles has just been reunited with his long-lost daughter. He is disturbed by strange music that no one else can hear. It causes him to fall asleep, and he sees a vision of the goddess Diana, who directs him to sail to her temple at Ephesus (because there he'll find his long-lost wife). He wakes up and gives this order. Characters: 1. Pericles, the Prince of Tyre, a great sailor 2. Helicanus, the prince's "first mate" 3. Marina, the daughter of Pericles 4. Lysimachus, in love with Marina 5. Diana, goddess of the hunt Part Two The Tempest, Act IV, Scene I Ferdinand and Miranda have become betrothed. Her father, the wizard Prospero, shows them a vision of goddesses, who bless their match. But then Prospero becomes upset, causes the vision to vanish, and leaves. Characters: 1. Ferdinand, a young prince 2. Miranda, in love with Ferdinand 3. Iris, goddess of the rainbow 4. Ceres, goddess of plants and harvest 5. Juno, the queen of goddesses 6. Prospero, the wizard, father to Miranda 7. Naiads? Part Three The Winter's Tale, Act V, Scene III The king, Leontes, has just been reunited with his long-lost daughter. They visit the gallery of Paulina to look at a statue of Hermione, his wife and her mother, who had apparently died many years before. Paulina brings the statue to "life" and the family is reunited as Hermione asks the goddesses to bless her daughter. Characters: 1. Leontes, the king 2. Paulina, the sculptor 3. Perdita, daughter of Leontes 4. Camillo, in love with Perdita 5. Polixenes, also a king, and friend to Leontes 6. Hermione, wife of Leontes, mother of Perdita Casting There are parts for 3 males, with the roles alternating, and for 9 females. Also, several or many Naiads could be added at the conclusion of the vision from "The Tempest." The three male parts might be distributed this way: 1. Pericles/Ferdinand/Polixenes 2. Helicanus/Prospero/Camillo 3. Lysimachus/Leontes Costumes, Props Goddesses and Hermione should be dressed in a style that suggests ancient Greece or Rome. They may have robes, crowns, veils, flowers, jewelry, and other accessories -- just not too glitzy or over-done. Each should have a musical instrument that she can hold in one hand -- small rhythm instruments such as tambourines, bells, or chimes are best. Each should also have a mask that she can hold before her with the other hand. The masks should be full-face masks (available at Michael's) painted and decorated by each actress. The three daughters (Marina, Miranda, and Perdita) should have dresses like the goddesses, but simpler. Paulina the sculptor should also have a very simple white dress, perhaps with an apron and white, clay-covered hands. These characters do not have masks or other props. The men should be dressed in costumes that are suggestive of Shakespeare's time. There should be just one "robe of state" that will be passed from Pericles to Prospero to Leontes to indicate their stature. There should also be just one staff, to pass from Helicanus to Polixenes. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Introduction: ---- Enter Pericles and Miranda, with Helicanus and Lysimachus Pericles: O heavens, bless my girl! Tell Helicanus, my Marina, tell him o'er, point by point, for he seems to doubt, how sure you are my daughter. Music. But hark, what music? Helicanus: My lord, I hear none. Pericles: None? The music of the spheres! List, my Marina! Marina: It is not good to cross him; give him way. Pericles: Rarest sounds! Do ye not hear? Lysimachus: Music, my lord? Pericles: Most heavenly music! It nips me unto listening, and thick slumber hangs upon mine eyes: let me rest. Exit all but Pericles, who sleeps... then Diana appears to him in a vision. Diana: My temple stands in Ephesus: Hie thee thither, and do upon mine altar sacrifice. There, when my maiden priests are met together, before the people all, reveal how thou at sea didst lose thy wife: to mourn thy crosses, with thy daughter's, call and give them repetition to the life. Perform my bidding, or thou livest in woe. Do it, and happy; by my silver bow! Awake, and tell thy dream. She disappears. Pericles: Celestial Diana, goddess argentine, I will obey thee. Helicanus! Re-enter Marina, Helicanus, and Lysimachus. Helicanus: Sir? Pericles: My purpose was for Tarsus, but I am for other service first: toward Ephesus turn our blown sails; eftsoons I'll tell thee why. Come! Come, my Marina. Exit all. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Enter Ferdinand and Miranda, who kneel facing each other and clasp hands. Iris appears. Iris: Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats and peas; the queen o' the sky, whose messenger am I, bids thee leave these, and with her grace, here on this grass-plot, in this very place, to come and sport: her peacocks fly amain: approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain. Enter Ceres. Ceres: Hail, many-colored messenger, that ne'er dost disobey the wife of Jupiter. Why hath thy queen Summoned me to this short-grassed green? Iris: A contract of true love to celebrate; and some donation freely to estate on the blest lovers. Ceres: High'st queen of state, Great Juno, comes; I know her by her gait. Enter Juno. Juno: How does my bounteous sister? Go with me to bless this twain, that they may prosperous be. Music. Juno: Honour, riches, marriage-blessing, long continuance, and increasing. Hourly joys be still upon you! Juno sings her blessings upon you. Ceres: Earth's increase, foison plenty, barns and garners never empty, Spring come to you at the farthest In the very end of harvest! Scarcity and want shall shun you; Ceres' blessing so is on you. Prospero enters. Ferdinand: This is a most majestic vision. Let me live here ever! Prospero: Hush, and be mute, or else our spell is marred. Iris: You nymphs, called Naiads, of the windring brooks, with your sedged crowns and ever-harmless looks, leave your crisp channels and on this green land answer your summons; Juno does command. Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate a contract of true love; be not too late. Music. Prospero: Well done! Avoid, no more! The goddesses vanish. Ferdinand: This is strange. Your father's in some passion that works him strongly. Miranda: Never till this day saw I him touched with anger, so distempered. Prospero: I am vexed. If you be pleased, retire into my cell, and there repose: a turn or to I'll walk, to still my beating mind. He exits. Miranda: We wish you peace. They exit, too. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Enter Leontes the king and Perdita his daughter, with Polixenes and Camillo. They are met by Paulina the sculptor. Leontes: O Paulina, we honour you with trouble: but we came to see the statue of our queen. Your gallery have we pass'd through, but we saw not that which my daughter came to look upon, the statue of her mother. Paulina: As she lived peerless, so her dead likeness, I do well believe, excels whatever yet you look'd upon. Prepare to see the life as lively mock'd as ever still sleep mock'd death. Behold, and say 'tis well. Paulina draws a curtain, to reveal Hermione standing like a statue. I like your silence, it the more shows off your wonder. But yet speak; first, you, my liege, comes it not something near? Leontes: Her natural posture! Chide me, dear stone, that I may say indeed thou art Hermione. There's magic in thy majesty, which has from thy admiring daughter took the spirits, standing like stone with thee. Perdita: And give me leave, and do not say 'tis superstition, that I kneel and then implore her blessing. She kneels. Camillo: My lord, your sorrow was too sore laid on, which sixteen winters cannot blow away, so many summers dry. Paulina: Indeed, my lord, if I had thought the sight of my poor image would thus have wrought you, I'd not have show'd it. Leontes: Do not draw the curtain. Paulina: No longer shall you gaze on't, lest your fancy may think anon it moves. Leontes: Let be, let be. Polixenes: The very life seems warm upon her lip. Paulina: My lord's almost so far transported that he'll think anon it lives. Shall I draw the curtain? Leontes: No, not these twenty years. Perdita: So long could I stand by, a looker on. Paulina: Either forbear, quit presently the chapel, or resolve you for more amazement. If you can behold it, I'll make the statue move indeed, descend and take you by the hand; but then you'll think-- which I protest against--I am assisted by wicked powers. Leontes: What you can make her do, I am content to look on: what to speak, I am content to hear; for 'tis as easy to make her speak as move. Paulina: It is required you do awake your faith. Then all stand still; those that think it is unlawful business I am about, let them depart. Leontes: Proceed. No foot shall stir. Paulina: Music, awake her; strike! Music. 'Tis time; descend; be stone no more; approach! Strike all that look upon with marvel. You perceive, she stirs. Hermione moves, to the surprise of all. Start not; her actions shall be holy as you hear my spell is lawful. The men kneel with Perdita. Nay, present your hand: when she was young you woo'd her; now in age is she become the suitor? Hermione takes the hand of Leontes. Leontes: O, she's warm! If this be magic, let it be an art lawful as eating. Perdita stands. Paulina: That she is living, were it but told you, should be hooted at like an old tale. But it appears she lives, though yet she speak not. Mark a little while. Please you to interpose, fair madam: kneel and pray your mother's blessing. Perdita again kneels. Turn, good lady; our Perdita is found. Hermione turns, and places her hand upon Perita's head. Hermione: You goddesses, look down, and from your sacred vials pour your graces upon my daughter's head! End with music.
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