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Lysistrata
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Lysistrata is the first completely positive female leader portrayed in drama (who was a mortal and not a goddess). While Lysistrata has great difficulty holding the women together, she never falters in her role as a General and through the play is a model of feminine rationality. Professor Elizabeth Scharffenberger (Columbia Classics) points out Lysistrata, "releaser of war," sounds remarkably similar to an important priestess in Athens at that time whose name, Lysimache, meant "releaser of the battle." The connection would have encouraged the association of Lysistrata with sacred Athena - a model of male-like rationality. Athena was after all born from the head of Zeus.
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While the action in the play Lysistrata, and the movie The First Wive’s Club are very different, the underlying social implications are similar. Lysistrata’s plot is outwardly seen as a women’s rebellion against the Peloponnesian War, its deeper meaning is that of the war between the sexes. Women in agrarian societies, like that of Athens, were seen as subordinate creatures when compared to men. They could not vote and their fathers controlled their actions before their husbands did. The sexual strike that was put on by Lysistrata was a message of wanting some say in life. In the First Wive’s Club, the women were ... fighting against the inequality between the sexes.
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Lysistrata (Andrea Biggs) has more pressing problems as a man approaches their sacred precinct. Myrhinne (Jean Arlea) is alarmed that its her husband, Both wonder in vain what to do about the apporaching fired up male. On the other hand, Kleonike (Laura Malone, center) wonder what she'd like to do to the approaching man. Van Vorst Park, Jersey City, NJ
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Led by the title character, Lysistrata, the story's female characters barricade the public funds building and withhold sex from their husbands to end the Peloponnesian War and secure peace. In doing so, Lysistrata engages the support of women from Sparta, Boeotia, and Corinth. All of the other women are first against Lysistrata's suggestion to withhold sex. Finally, they agree to swearing an oath of allegiance by drinking wine from a shield. This action is ironic and therefore comical, because Greek men believed women had no self-restraint, a lack displayed in their alleged fondness for wine as well as for sex.
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While the Peloponnesian War rages, Lysistrata develops a plan for peace--a sex strike. She is definitely a woman with some power. How she gets the men to agree to end the war drives the plot of this farce. The principal cast of Lysistrata consists of Rain Ross '00, Elizabeth Tidy, Stephanie Bortis '02, Molly Sullivan '02, Laconia Koerner '00, and me. They are supported by an incredible female chorus and a few powerful men "wrangled up" from around the Valley. Internationally known designers Leandro Soto and Vanessa James designed sets and costumes respectively. Katie Down, music director of the Pilgrim Theatre, composed an original score.
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Lysistrata is often produced in contemporary theatre. Modern audiences enjoy the sexuality and humor in Aristophanes’ work, and they enjoy what appears as modern feminism and the depiction of strong women. Comedies were very popular presentations during the Greek festivals, and there is no reason to think that Lysistrata was not immensely popular. At the time of the play’s initial production, Athens and Sparta had been at war for twenty years, and this play would have offered one of the few opportunities to laugh at war. The idea that Lysistrata could unite women to end the war would have set up the audience for a traditional battle between the sexes. However, there are ... serious ideas to be found in Lysistrata’s speeches.
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