The Ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes is best known for his comedic plays, often called the “Father of Comedy” for that very reason. He wrote forty plays, with eleven surviving in their virtually complete form today. The majority of his works belong to the Old Comedy genre, and they were performed in many Athenian festivals during the late 4th and early 3rd century BCE. Lysistrata remains his most well-known work, and is still performed today.

Set in Athens during the Peloponnesian War, Lysistrata presents the title character rallying together all the women from Athens and Sparta, ordering them all to not sleep with their husbands until the war ends. When a Chorus of Old Men arrive on the scene, they find that they are unable to enter the Acropolis to gain the money they need to continue the war. Soon after, the Chorus of Old Women arrive to fight on behalf of their younger comrades. Lysistrata aims to convince the men of Athens that the war offers no benefit to the Athenian women, and the battle between the men and the women continues toward it’s hope for resolution.

This play served as my introduction to Greek drama, and it allowed me to understand its components of political satire and the use of a literal Greek Chorus, all while being done in the found space of an outdoor garden.

Credits: Directed by Julie Schmitt, Scenic Design by Krista Franco, Costume Design by Cheryl Orr, February 2025.

Photos by AndYou Films