Napier Repertory brings ancient show to the stage

Part of the cast of Lysistrata

Napier Repertory's end-of-year production for 2016 Lysistrata, is intriguing and should not to be missed. The comedy, written by Aristophanes in the time of the ancient Greeks, is a comic account of one woman's extraordinary mission to end the Peloponnesian War.

It was originally performed in classical Athens in 411 BC.

Heroine Lysistrata persuades the women of Greece to withhold sexual privileges from their husbands and lovers as a means of forcing the men to negotiate peace-a strategy, however, that inflames the battle between the sexes.

The play is notable for being an early expose of sexual relations in a male-dominated society. But this strategy leads to an all-out war between the sexes and some hard bargaining from the boys. But first the women have to overcome some challenges too, not least the call of their own desires.

Speaking about the play, director Ken Keys says, "Aristophanes' anti-war play has been 'on the go' for more than 2000 years and, sadly (see Syria), its relevance will never diminish. During the Iraqi war, for instance, dozens of productions of Lysistrata were staged, by way of protest, across the USA."

The original Greek setting and background are, Ken hopes, strong and obvious. "However," he continues, "to universalise the play, we chose to update it by adding a 1960s dimension in Costume, Characterisation, and, above all, Music from that 'protest' era. Many of you will remember the idealism of Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, ........"

That is the serious side of the drama. It is above all, however, a raunchy comedy, a satire (from Greek God Satyr) where the sex-strike is the weapon the women use to achieve a more sane and civilised society.

It should be remembered that the Greeks had none of the inhibitions of our culture and their art and religion were awash with sexual symbols, in particular, the phallus. Dionysus was God, not just of Wine, but also of Fertility. Aphrodite was Goddess of Love and Beauty. Hence, Lysistrata's strategy (it being a sacrifice for the women, just as much as the men) was a brilliantly effective one.

With only a very "primitive" script to work from, this production was always going to be a collaborative one; where the cast and Ken would devise and workshop the story, the characters - to put flesh on the bare bones of the original skeletal script.

"The team work from the cast and crew has exceeded all my expectations," says Keys "In their creative flow of ideas, their open-mindedness, their wonderful sense of humour and, of course, their commitment to a very challenging project."

Little Theatre, 76 McGrath Street, Napier
Season: 5-15 October
Bookings are available from the Municipal Theatre, Tennyson Street, Napier.