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Dionysus in 69

Dionysus in '69 is a performance adaptation of Euripides' The Bacchae, directed by Richard Schechner, featuring a blend of ritualistic elements and audience interaction. The play follows the character Pentheus as he confronts Dionysus, leading to themes of ecstasy, madness, and ultimately, tragedy. The performance culminates in a death ritual, highlighting the consequences of denying the divine and the chaos of unchecked freedom.

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Bobby Griffith
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193 views2 pages

Dionysus in 69

Dionysus in '69 is a performance adaptation of Euripides' The Bacchae, directed by Richard Schechner, featuring a blend of ritualistic elements and audience interaction. The play follows the character Pentheus as he confronts Dionysus, leading to themes of ecstasy, madness, and ultimately, tragedy. The performance culminates in a death ritual, highlighting the consequences of denying the divine and the chaos of unchecked freedom.

Uploaded by

Bobby Griffith
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Dionysus in ’69

https://archive.org/details/dionysusin6900perf

Summary of the play by Richard Schechner and the Performance Group, adapted from The Bacchae, by
Euripides. Illustrations by Frederick Eberstadt

Before audience enters: Breathing, relaxing, meditating.

Opening Ceremonies:

Women Men Dionysus


(sing severally, then together) (greet spectators) (meets spectators)
Hymn to Dionysus “May I show you to your seat?”

First Episode: CADMUS and TIRESIAS


 Tiresias is blindfolded (game of blindman’s buff).
 They meet secretly and journey to a sacred place where rites will take place.

Birth Ritual (from Asmets of New Guinea)


 Dionysus enters birth canal to be born.
 Pentheus watches birth rite.
 Dionysus is born.

Ecstasy Dance:
 Dionysus leads everyone in a circle dance.
 Pentheus stops the dance and everyone dresses.

Second Episode: PENTHEUS, CADMUS, and TIRESIAS


 Pentheus scolds his grandfather.
 Tiresias describes the prophecy of Dionysus.

Tag Chorus
 Chorus speaks to audience of joys of Dionysus; Pentheus stops each chorus member.
 Chorus starts again—Pentheus stops them again—they start—he stops.
 Chorus builds up a babel of nursery rhymes and folk tunes.
 Pentheus screams for Dionysus and the chorus stops.

Third Episode: PENTHEUS and DIONYSUS


 Pentheus interrogates Dionysus about his rites.
 Pentheus has Dionysus arrested and jailed.

Dionysus Game: Pentheus is mortified (substitutes for the earthquake


in Euripides)
 Each member of Chorus names one happy thing that happened and turns from Pentheus.
 Dionysus escapes from pit and meets Pentheus.
 Wild circle dance around Pentheus, who stops it.
 Ritual battle.
 Dionysus offers compassion to Pentheus.
 Pentheus seeks a woman in the audience.
 Rejected, Pentheus crumbles as chorus whispers and laughs.

Fourth Episode: PENTHEUS and DIONYSUS


 Pentheus is offered compassion in return for doing something hard.
 Pentheus kisses Dionysus and leaves to disrobe.
 Dionysus announces that Pentheus will submit.

The Caress (caressing audience members) Later became The Moiety


Dance
 Dionysus and Pentheus emerge from pit  2 Groups: 1 alone, 1 with audience
 Caress becomes violent  Chorus urges everyone to get Pentheus
 Animal Chase  Messenger points out a moral and
warns audience of death of Pentheus

Fifth Episode: DIONYSUS and PENTHEUS


 Dionysus teaches Pentheus how to dance like a bacchante.
 Pentheus loses his mind and Dionysus marks him with blood.
 Dionysus turns Pentheus over to Agave.
 The women caress, then torment, then chase Pentheus.
 Pentheus is wounded and accompanies 2 men to the site of the death ritual.

Death Ritual
Men lie on a mat while Women dip hand in blood and “murder” the men.

Sixth Episode: AGAVE, CADMUS


Agave discovers what she has done.

Dirge
 Tiresias leads the Chorus in a call and response.
 Cast cleans up the blood and exits the theater.

The Curse of Dionysus


 Dionysus condems the performers and the audience.
 Dionysus then campaigns on a platform of total freedom.

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