SceneFiend library
Alcestis
By Euripides - Stage play
Roles
- Servant - Young Adult (20-35), Adult (36-50), Senior (>50), Female
About this piece
A servant describes Alcestis' preparation to die
Summary
In the background story of the play, the Greek god Apollo manages to convince the Fates (Gods of destiny and death) to let King Admetus (Apollo's friend) live longer. The price that he has to pay is that somebody else needs to take his place when his time to die comes. His devoted wife Alcestis agrees to take his place. The play starts with Alcestis' imminent death. Thanatos, Death, comes to claim her and Apollo asks him to delay her death to no avail. Eventually she is taken away by Death but later she is rescued by Heracles, who wrestles Death, rescues Alcestis and returns her to Admetus. In this monologue a maidservant joins the Chorus to praise Alcestis' virtues. She describes Alcestis' preparations to confront death and her courage to accept her destiny to save her husband.
Tone
Use cases
Library metadata only. SceneFiend never includes script text here - pick up the published version to rehearse.
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