Cassandra! Prologue

The prologue to Cassandra! wherein the god Apollo, in a sketchy quid pro quo, gives the accursed gift of prophecy to the innocent, lovely Cassandra.

Those Gossips, again!MC version of the Epilogue to emulate.

MC's quick version, just begging to be emulated.

The title says it all. Inspired by a bit of research and by Nathan Evans shanty The Wellerman, this touches on aspects of the father of our country during the American Revolution and imagines what a shanty might sound like for the cause. Enjoy - it is brief, but IMHO of course, catchy!

For those who need neither the entire play nor the discrete Acts of Accursed Philoctetes, here are Parts I & II. Part I addresses events which lead to the abadonment of Philoctetes on Lemnos. Part II the fraught return of the Greeks to retrieve Philoctetes and the bow. Enjoy these iterations of Accursed Philoctetes.

For those desiring neither the whole play nor the discrete Acts of Accursed Philoctetes. ..Part I of Accursed Philoctetes addresses only how and why the Greeks abandon the keeper of the great bow of Hercules. Part II takes up the return of the Greeks and the resolution thereof. Enjoy this iteration of Accursed Philoctetes.

This is the full, extended version of Accursed Philoctetes.How and why you may ask could there be a full play about a spinoff story from the Trojan War Cycle? How and why would you find this myth about a middling Greek hero whose fame/notoriety is due to the stench from an infected foot worthy of your or anyone else's attention? Philoctetes is not exactly heroic, more of a victim, and he whines alot about his mistreatment, but on the other hand he does have a point. He was treated shabbily by his Greek peers, especially when he has, in his possession, the arms of mighty Hercules. Good questions. Listen in and maybe after that, you'll understand. Or maybe not. "Creator'"s note: apologies that I did not enlist other actors in this production, but my usual suspects have gotten oldier and busier and I was reluctant to disturb. Consider this then a template should any one feel a burning desire to do this unwieldy thing justice. In the meantime, I will slink back into my cave, sans, of course, the bow of Hercules.

In this final episode of Accursed Philoctetes, the son of Achilles, Neoptolemus, attempts to regain the lost trust of Philoctetes and thereby help the desperate Greek cause. Will Phil listen or has he been burned too much to be reasonable, much less rational? Is there really a cure for what ails Philoctetes?Physically? Psychically?Speaking of sanity, what advice does the bow of Hercules offer Phil?In the end, does Philoctetes get his revenge on Diomedes and Odysseus?Can Philoctetes trust any Greek? How about the son of Achilles, Neoptolemus?Are there second acts in ancient Greece?Listen in for answers to your questions and the questions above. Thank you againf or tuning in and embracing the strange.

A statement and some questions.FOMO is real.  But often buried beneath that fear is the hope of inclusion or even a do over. In this episode of Accursed Philoctetes the Greek heroes Odysseus and Diomedes, who abandoned Philoctetes years ago, return to the isolated cave where he had previously sequestered himself.  What kind of a reception will he give them?Does he still have his sanity intact?After nine years of foot festering, why have they come back now?What has changed?  Is it true that Troy cannot be taken without the bow AND the man?Is this a second chance for Philoctetes?Can he actually be cured of his affliction?Could there be an end to his FOMO if he can forgive those who betrayed him previously? Can he forgive after 9 years of torment? Isn't vengeance more likely the tune on his bow?Can he listen to another Greek hero's overtures?Tune in to find answers to all your questions in Act III of Accursed Philoctetes.

In this episode of Accursed Philoctetes, two great Greeks, Odysseus and Diomedes, heroes in their own right even before they reach Troy, must make the difficult decision to bring nasty Philoctetes along or not. Without driving their crews to mutiny. Without getting shot themselves by Philoctetes. With or without the legendary bow of Hercules. With or without Philoctetes’s permission. With or without Philoctetes himself.  Without incurring Hera’s wrath on themselves. Without shedding Philoctetes's Greek blood.Enjoy learning more of the myth in this episode of Accursed Philoctetes.