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The following is a summary of what happens in the play that we performed. Links to the actual play are located above. (Nota Bene: The changes and additions that we made this year have not yet been added like the Jerry Springer part.) ACT I, Scene 1 The play begins at the end of the Trojan War. The Greeks have left Sinon with the Trojan Horse outside the city of Troy. The king comes forward to find out what all the hubbub is about, but he is unsure of what to do. Aeneas and his father, Anchises, take a closer look, but they are forced to call the priest of Poseidon , Laocoon to make the final decision. He is killed, and the Trojans decide to risk it all and bring the horse into the doomed city. The people of Troy celebrate, but it is short lived as the Greeks spring their plan into action. Scene 2 Pyrrhus, the son of Achilles, sees the aged king of Troy and kills him while Aeneas sees Helen the most beautiful woman in the world and the cause of this destruction. Before Aeneas can kill her, Aphrodite stops him and tells him to rescue his family. Creusa is already packed and Ascanius is on his way. While they are making their escape, Creusa is killed, but her ghost returns to tell Aeneas to go on without her. Scene 3 Aeneas leaves the city and meets up with some other refugees, Eurylaus and Nisus, Pyrgo and Beroe, and a man who is to become Aeneas’ number one, the brave Achates. They board the ship and set sail. Scene 4 Aeneas encounters strange creatures and experiences some strange prophesies. The men, in their hunger, unknowingly land in the land of the Harpies - dreaded creatures with the bodies of birds and the head of women who snatch food from their helpless victims. The Harpy Celaeno gives Aeneas a cryptic message: He won’t be home until he eats his tables. Palinurus steers them away and into Helenus and Andromache who provide another message: Sail west to Italy to found a new land. Scene 5 The Trojans sail to the land of the Cyclops (Frannie Howard), and they run into Achaemenides, one of Odysseus men, who was left here. He is terrified and warns the Trojans to leave, but the Cyclops throws a rock and kills Anchises. ACT II, Scene 1 The Trojans stop in a new land, first sighted by Palinurus. The pair Eurylaus and Nisus are excited while Aeneas and Achates discuss the recent events that led them here. Aphrodite, Aeneas mother, appears and tells the lost men what they must do. They must find the city of Carthage, ruled by Dido and her sister, Anna. When they finally find the beautiful queen, he tells them the story of his journeys. Scene 2 Ascanius is disinterested in the story and leaves to take a nap while Cupid hits Dido with one of his powerful love arrows causing her to fall madly in love with Aeneas. They wander into the forest while they are hunting. Scene 3 Anna and Dido fight about Dido’s day with Aeneas, but Anna is very displeased. Scene 4 The gods of Mt. Olympus meet to discuss matters important to mankind. However, Hera and Aphrodite have conspired to take power from Zeus. Cupid and Poseidon are in attendance. Hermes is called to deliver a message to Aeneas. It is time for him to leave Carthage and sail on to Italy. Scene 5 Hermes delivers his message to Aeneas, but Dido refuses to let Aeneas go without a fight. Aeneas is forced to leave, but as he looks back, he sees smoke coming from Dido’s house. Achates knows what has happened, but he does not tell Aeneas just yet. Scene 6 Hera tries to exact revenge on Aeneas, but Poseidon puts and end to it. For his services, he demands the sacrifice of one of Aeneas’ sailors. The ship lands at Cumae, the home of the sibyl. She tells Aeneas that he must go to the Underworld to see his dead father, Anchises. Aeneas goes to the Underworld with Achates and the sibyl where they see all manner of torture and torment and eventually find Anchises who tells them to continue sailing. As Aeneas leaves, he sees Dido who has died, but she refuses to speak to Aeneas. ACT III, Scene 1 The Trojans land at long last in Italy. Achates spots the land first and Aeneas sends the party of Eurylaus and Nisus to explore. Ascanius is starving but when he eats his pita bread, he exclaims that the Trojans have eaten their tables, thus the prophesy has come true. The Trojans are now in their new home. Scene 2 Aeneas meets the locals, King Latinus, his wife, Amata, and his daughter, Lavinia. Latinus finds out that Aeneas is a Trojan hero and wants his daughter to marry Aeneas, but Amata reminds him that he has already promised the pretty Lavinia to Turnus the King of the Rutulians. Scene 3 Turnus has a bad day and kills one of his servants. Amata comes in with the bad news. Turnus sends his other servan to gather his allies. Mezentius the kind of the Etruscans and his son, Lausus arrive shortly with Camilla, a famous Italian warrioress. They plan to attack the Trojans while they are not aware. Scene 4 A battle ensues and both sides retreat for the time being, but Aeneas escapes to talk with the Greek Evander who once knew Priam, the famous king of Troy. Evander summons his son, Pallas who hits it off with Aeneas right away. Eurylaus and Nisus need Aeneas urgently, but as they attempt to find him, they are discovered and are both killed. Scene 5 The battle rages. Aeneas and Turnus start off the fighting, but it soons turns to a battle between Pallas and Lausus. As Pallas gets the upperhand, Turnus rushes in and kills Pallas and takes his belt. Turnus flees under the guidance of Hera. Aeneas chases after him and returns shortly to save the Trojans from the attack of Mezentius. Aeneas kills Lausus and Mezentius while promising to give them a proper funeral. Scene 6 A messenger arrives to tell Aeneas that Turnus wants to end this war with a duel to the death. Aeneas sends Tarchon to watch the rear flank where he enounters Camilla. Turnus and Aeneas duel, Turnus gets the upper hand. Aeneas turns the tables and is about to kill Turnus when he is filled with compassion to show Turnus mercy. However, he sees the belt of Pallas on Turnus and his mercy turns to rage. He kills Turnus. Aeneas has fulfilled his fate. |
