A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR
“Lysistrata” by Aristophanes is one of the few extant comedies that remain from 4th century B.C. Athenian theatre. Athens, long involved in a costly and seemingly eternal conflict with Sparta, was ripe for a comedy that centered on the war and offered the most ridiculous of solutions. All extant Athenian comedies used the device of an overwhelming problem being solved by a protagonist of limited or absent power within society. Aristophanes created the character of Lysistrata, who, as a female in Athens, would be considered property with little agency over her own being and absolutely no political power in the city-state.
The play is ancient and frequently used in modern theatres as a political, anti-war play. McLaughlin’s adaptation was first performed at BAM in 2003 as part of the “Lysistrata Project (A Theatrical Act of Dissent)” when over 800 theatres throughout 52 countries and 50 U.S. states held public readings of the play in protest of the war in Iraq.
For this production, we drew inspiration from the protests of the late 1960s and early 1970s, when students took to the streets to protest the draft and the wars in Southeast Asia (Vietnam and Cambodia). Just prior to the debut of Lysistrata in 411 B.C.E., Athens' status as a leading naval power was badly damaged by a failed invasion of Sicily. Athens as a state was deeply divided over the Peloponnesian War and badly needed the humor that Aristophanes' timely play offered.
It was a joy to work with my fellow artists on this production and to share it with all of you. Let us celebrate, in the theatre today, the impressive talents of our Queensborough students, both backstage and on stage. Enjoy!
Prof. Georgia McGill,
Director
There will be a brief intermission.
Absolutely No Photography during the performance.
Smoking, eating, and the use of recording devices of any kind are strictly prohibited in the theater.
Please turn off all cell phones and noise making devices as it is disruptive to performers and your fellow audience members.
Content Transparency: This political comedy includes moments using/depicting: Swearing, sexual innuendo, satirical depiction of sexual behavior, the stereotyping of men, women and the elderly along with discussion of the human and financial cost of war.
