The company of ten open the show by briefly CHORALE-ing us with the ancient Greek myths about the boyhood
of Achilles. When he was born, two oracles foretold his future. One said that
he would be the greatest warrior the Greeks had ever known but would die in the
Trojan War; the other that the Greeks would not win that war unless Achilles
fought.
His mother Thetis, not wanting her son to
die, bathed him in the waters of the river Styx for protection. She then sent
him off to be brought up by her brother King Lycomedes. The boy would be
brought up in disguise.
As a girl.
Knowing the oracle, King Odysseus of Ithaka
realised he had to find Achilles if the Greeks were to win the forthcoming war.
He tracked him down to Lycomedes’ court and then presented himself in disguise
as a peddler with a tray of things sure to delight young ladies. It was only
when Achilles, known as "Pyrrha", showed his pleasure at a cunningly
hidden sword that his true identity became known.
Having told us the myth, the company inform
us in a Greek sritaki dance that IT WASN'T REALLY LIKE THAT, over which
THETIS RAPS out some scene setting. Somehow, the news has to be broken to
"Pyrrha" that she isn't a girl.
Achilles, as "Pyrrha", and his two
sisters Diodeima and Thea introduce themselves in the form of Ancient Supremes
(THE
DAUGHTERS OF LYCOMEDES: SPRING/
AUTUMN.)
Phoenix, "Pyrrha"'s faithful slave,
comes in to tell them that their aunt Thetis is arriving that morning as is,
separately, a nobleman called Eurymachus, to seek Diodeima's hand. Thea is not
pleased by this news; if Diodeima is married off, she'll be the next to go. She
leaves Diodeima alone with her tutor Zeno who declares his love (WATCHING YOU), a love which Diodeima reciprocates.
Meanwhile on Ithaka, Odysseus sings of his
growing unhappiness, the only solution to which would appear to be a war. (ODYSSEUS ON ITHAKA: SPRING/ AUTUMN).
Thetis arrives at Lycomedes' palace
accompanied by a young protégé and neighbour Patroclus. Lycomedes takes both
Patroclus and Eurymachus off into the palace, leaving Thetis alone with Phoenix
who is now desperately wondering how the news can be broken to
"Pyrrha". (EASY FOR YOU TO SAY) They are joined by Lycomedes who joins in with
Phoenix's worries.
Alone, "Pyrrha" sings of her
loneliness and confusion. PYRRHA'S LAMENT (SPRING/ AUTUMN).
Thea tells Diodeima that she has heard that
Eurymachus is very tight-fisted and advises her to show EXTRAVAGANT TASTE (SPRING ) which she does when Eurymachus enters, Thea in hiding
but prompting . Eurymachus is put off Diodeima -- and rather taken by his brief
glimpse of "Pyrrha" who had left with Patroclus. Once Eurymachus has
left for home and consideration of the marriage, Diodeima and Thea sing in
triumph about FROU
FROU GIRLY THINGS (AUTUMN),
"Pyrrha" joining them.
Ten days later, Thetis is leaving, the
problem with "Pyrrha" still not sorted out. Patroclus finds himself
strangely drawn to “Pyrrha” and, alone, sings that he is FEELING THINGS, he's never felt before.
Eurymachus is seen arriving at Odysseus’
court in Ithaka on his way home. It has taken some months for him to arrive
there. When Eurymachus mentions Lycomedes’ three daughters, Odysseus
realises that he has "FOUND MYSELF A HERO" (SPRING)..
On Skyros, Diodeima tells Zeno that she is
pregnant. (DIODEIMA'S NEWS)
Patroclus sings of his love for
"Pyrrha", now far away, just as "she" sings of her love for
him. Everyone is singing of their problems as the Act ends.
And as the SECOND ACT begins.
Eventually only Patroclus and
"Pyrrha" are alone on stage. Patroclus, having just returned to the
court on Skyros with Thetis, talks to "Pyrrha" about how he feels
very much the poor relation, he hasn't even got a good sword. Finally, after
months of frustration, Patroclus grabs and starts to fondle her. In surprise he
reprises that he is "FEELING THINGS"(SPRING) he's never felt before. He
reveals to "Pyrrha" that, well, she's a boy. Achilles finally realises the
source of all his confusions.
And the possible source of possible
problems. Problems that Diodeima and Zeno are also having to
confront. LOVE IS
WRONG (SPRING / AUTUMN)
Poor
King Lycomedes too is bowed down under the pressure of FAMILY OBLIGATIONS (AUTUMN)
until his sister Thetis returns. Talk everywhere
is of coming war and she thinks it only fair now that Achilles be told the
whole truth and be given the opportunity to fight if he must; she doesn't think
he will. Phoenix comes in to say that a peddler has arrived - he's identified
him as the disguised Odysseus. They realise that this may be what they've been
looking for.
Left alone Thetis sings of the LITTLE MONSTERS (SPRING).
Only Thea is initially horrified by the idea
that Achilles will now be going off to fight (THE
TROJAN WOMEN : SPRING /
AUTUMN ) but eventually Thetis and Diodeima join in with her
lament.
Nonetheless, Achilles determines that if
Patroclus is going off to fight, he will go too. He'd rather be with Patroclus.
The cast remind us that Achilles' death has
been inevitable from the outset -- and besides that, these people are all now LOST IN THE MYTHS OF TIME.
Fortunately, Thetis quickly interrupts this
number as being far too gloomy. She points out that just for the moment
everyone is having a happy ending and leads the company into a joyous final BACCHANAL SRITAKI (SPRING / AUTUMN).
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