Philoktetes

Institute History

  • 2000 Theatre Lab

Description

This play was originally commissioned in 1983 by the late actor Ron Vawter and the Kaii Theater/Brussels but never performed in its entirety. It is loosely based on the Sophocles play.

Philoktetes was a Greek general and a member of the military expedition to Troy. He was given possession of Heracles’ magic bow and arrows. In the course of the journey to Troy, Philoktetes is bitten by a snake. It leaves him with a wound so painful and debilitating that his friend Odysseus and his colleagues abandon him on the uninhabited island of Lemnos. Ten years later the Greeks have made little progress in the siege of Troy. An oracle tells them that they can only win by using Heracles’ bow and arrows. Odysseus and Neoptolemus, Achilles’ son, have traveled to Lemnos to fetch the bow. The script begins at this point.

Director Martin Acosta and John Jesurun will work on developing the play further. Martin has directed Jesurun’s FAUST and WHITE WATER in Mexico and will direct PHILOKTETES there in November. Jesurun and Acosta will also work on the Spanish translation in preparation for the Mexican production.
—John Jesurun

Credits

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