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Written by Euripides
Translated by Don Taylor Performed July 26th through July 29th, 2018 on the Theatre Steps at City Hall After exploring the end of the House of Atreus' bloody revenge cycle for the past two summers, NTC decided to return to the beginning of the story. Menelaus' wife, the infamous Helen, has been taken to Troy. The Grecian forces have been rallied and are gathered at Aulis, ready to set sail under the command of Agamemnon, Menelaus' brother. However, the goddess Artemis is angry with the Greeks and prevents them from setting sail by stopping the winds. The only way to appease the goddess, according to the priests, is for Agamemnon to sacrifice his oldest daughter, Iphigenia. Deeply conflicted, Agamemnon sends for Iphigenia and his wife, Clytemnestra, telling them that they are coming so that Iphigenia can marry the famed warrior Achilles. Clytemnestra and Achilles quickly realize what is going on, and Achilles promises to protect Iphigenia. Word quickly spreads throughout the camp, though, and the other soldiers insist that Agamemnon kill Iphigenia so that they can go to Troy and achieve eternal glory. After pleading with her father to spare her, Iphigenia eventually accepts her fate and chooses to go to her death with dignity. After the sacrifice, the Old Man tells Clytemnestra that, at the last minute, Iphigenia was taken by Artemis to be with the gods and a deer remained in her place.
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Special Thanks to:
Linda R. Plaut, Director, Mayor's Office for Cultural Affairs Jeannie Smith, Associate Director Chris Polt, Classics Professor at Boston College Terry Curtin |