SOPHOCLES / ODYSSEUS ACANTHOPLEX

BY CHRISTOPHER VANDERLAAN

TylerJoyelle-mimmagfinal.indd 1

3/22/13 3:28 PM

SOPHOCLES / ODYSSEUS ACANTHOPLEX

by Christopher Vanderlaan

CHARACTERS Odysseus, king of Ithaca Telegonus, son of Circe Chorus, a roach head & fourteen grains of sand

Scene: The shore of lake Phorcis. Odysseus enters from stage right. He is an old man dressed in rags, a cover for the king in a strange
01

TylerJoyelle-mimmagfinal.indd 2

3/22/13 3:28 PM

ODYSSEUS: Hello, a lake! At last some water near which to rest

my weary bones. And hello again, the head of a roach to keep me company! Tell me what youve been up to, roach head. Or since you seem like someone who can keep a secret, perhaps I may start things off. My name is Odysseus, perhaps youve heard of me or my long journey? Well, I am on a new one as we speak, this time on the run from my son Telemachus. Though hes not yet tried and has no reason that I can see, it has been predicted that my own son shall murder me. Rather than risk my well being, I have gone out to seek the company of strangers like yourself. Well not exactly like yourself, but I have met so few on this journey and have so much to say that by now I count even you as friend. But woah, is that someone I see? How strange, he talks to his spear and yells at the trees! Surely he is unsound, though it is I that speaks to a skull. Perhaps I will hide you in the sand, dear roach head. Better to conceal a friend than appear as kinsman to this mad stranger You, young man, who are you?
02

TylerJoyelle-mimmagfinal.indd 3

3/22/13 3:28 PM

(Telegonus enters from stage left. He is dressed in an exotic and flamboyany fashion.)
TELEGONUS: Me? Im famous. ODYSSEUS: You look

ODYSSEUS: OIMOI! What shall I

now howl? You have wounded me.

TELEGONUS: So I have, the

somewhat famous to me. Where does the gift come from that you have upon your famous shoulders?
TELEGONUS: He asks me

blow looks somewhat fatal. Though I may dance again as I just did, never more will you ask a stranger to be so forthcoming!
ODYSSEUS: Do not be so sure.

this! Old man, such a question should not be asked, for this is not a gift but a spear. It is as much a part of me as my dress, I dare not ever part from either. Furthermore, it does not matter where my spear comes from but rather, where it is going! (Telegonus dances around whistling and stabs Odysseus through the stomach with one quick thrust.)
03

Though this wound does in fact appear fatal, the gods have foretold that my son will be the death of me. With only him to fear, I need not take any measure of caution against a young madman.
TELEGONUS: Brave words,

you sound like me when Ill be older. Here, give me your hand so that we can wash your wound in the lake. (Telegonus pulls Odysseus up with force.)

TylerJoyelle-mimmagfinal.indd 4

3/22/13 3:28 PM

ODYESSEUS: IO MOI TYCHAS!

Thank you but slowly please, go step by step so that I am not shaken in case worse pain comes upon me! (Odysseus trips over the buried roach head, which is revealed to Telegonus as it rolls out on the sand.)
TELEGONUS: By Apollo, the

shaken old man, do my words offend? The roach was long dead before I used his back!
ODYSSEUS: No, your spear just

roach head! ODYSSEUS: O, is he a friend of yours too?

TELEGONUS: Foolish old man,

reminded me of a vision Tiresias had, another prophecy of my demise. He said my end would come from the sea, I always thought he meant a whale or a wave but now that Im thinking, he may have been referring to my friends body being thrust inside me. TELEGONUS: You may twist too much the words of a blind seer, but I am not your son so I trust for now youre fine. (Telegonus cups his hands and pours some water on Odysseus wound.)

a skull is no mans friend! I know him well though, Phorcys killed him for eating the fish of this lake and I fashioned the tip of my spear from his spine. Ive been carrying this part of him with me for some time You seem

04

TylerJoyelle-mimmagfinal.indd 5

3/22/13 3:28 PM

ODYSSEUS: Very well then. Do

ODYSSEUS: Oh, and how could

tell me now why youre famous. We must discuss something while you wash my insides.
TELEGONUS: I am famous

this be? Of course I know the man, but Ive seen his only son and you are not him.

TELEGONUS: I am his son by

because I am the son of a great man.

ODYSSEUS: Do tell whom, I

Circe, with whom he once lived not far from here.

ODYSSEUS: Oh? How old are

you, boy, and what is your name?

TELEGONUS: My name is

tend not to crow but I know a few.

TELEGONUS: No offence dear

beggar, but Im not sure he would know someone like you.

ODYSSEUS: Perhaps I wear

Telegonus and Im nineteen but enough of your questions, just who are you?
ODYSSEUS: PHEU! My boy, my

these rags as a ruse, in another land I may be king.

TELEGONUS: Very well then

son, I am Odysseus. Very nearly 20 years ago I lived on an island with your mum. I wore more than rags but back then I was not so worried about what was to come.

old fool, perhaps you will know my father. He is Odysseus, king of Ithaca and the famous traveler.
05

TylerJoyelle-mimmagfinal.indd 6

3/22/13 3:28 PM

TELEGONUS: OI MOI MOI!

TELEGONUS: I will do my best,

Father, what have I done? Why could your friend here not have said hed spine wound you, his head in the sand?
ODYSSEUS: I fear wed just

should anyone else be invited? How I wish our first conversation did not veer this way.
ODYSSEUS: Now that I think

met and I had only barely begun explaining a little about me. I feel it now, I am almost done.
TELEGONUS: Oh father, now

I will have new words to scream at the trees. My somber sorry darkens my robes, but I know how your repayment can begin: I will seek out your queen in Ithaca and marry her, to continue most faithfully with your line. And perhaps your son can marry my mother?
ODYSSEUS: That sounds like the

of it, my old new friend the roach head had better see in his sockets what he has made of me. Please Telegonus, stab this head in the head with his spine. OI MOI! I am now mostly dead. (Telegonus stabs the roach head and turns in time to see Odysseus collapse in the sand. Using his own flamboyant robe, the boy covers Odysseus and walks, slowly and shirtless, off stage right towards Ithaca. He drags along his spear.)
ROACH HEAD: O my head!

most reasonable thing that can be done. Please have these new families meet here to bury me.

06

TylerJoyelle-mimmagfinal.indd 7

3/22/13 3:28 PM

PLAY BOOK

TylerJoyelle-mimmagfinal.indd 8

3/22/13 3:28 PM