Performance

A single light illuminates two performers. There is an old gramophone with a spinning record on a small table beside Performer 2. Performer 2 goes to the table and puts the needle down on the record just as Performer 1 says ‘co-creation’. 

PERFORMER 1

We were sitting in the garden having another conversation about co-creation.

Suddenly all lights & Music Up on stage: A large cacophony of people moving to and fro in DELPHI on the terraces of Mount Parnassus at the Temple of Apollo, the site of the ancient Oracle at Delphi. Preparation for the Pythian Games are underway. A light comes on from above stage left, illuminating a large rock which hovers over the scene. There APHRODITE stands overlooking the festivities. Her son EROS is with her, though clearly disinterested. 

The patrons of Delphi and those seeking the Oracle
move busily across the stage. There is joy to their
preparations, a festival is taking place, music and
dancing in the streets.

FROM ABOVE, Aphrodite grows more and more
agitated as she watches the scene below. Psyche
continues to move throughout… 

PSYCHE enters with her TWO SISTERS, their
MOTHER and FATHER. They make their way
through the gathering. The people of Delphi flock to
Psyche. They pause in their paths at the sight of
Psyche, clear the way for her, offer her gifts, wreaths,
and beg for her blessing. Her sisters, jealous and
enraged, fall back. Mother and Father watch in
despair. Psyche notices her sisters’ withdrawal and
moves to comfort them.

APHRODITE

(growls)
What happens here?... Who is this?
What is this creature? No! Dare they
worship her as they would my own
divine self?

FATHER

 Just look, see, there… how they
follow her… long for her touch, her
gaze… Even the attendants at
Aphrodite’s Temple leave their
ceremonies to be near her! Men
intimidated by her beauty try for her
hand then tremble, kneel and avert
their eyes, not one will aspire to be
her husband.

APHRODITE

This girl, whoever she is, enjoys
appropriating honours that are mine
and beauty which is not hers by
right!

FATHER

Pressure stalks me as she grows.
Ahhh... time makes its marks! For
her older sisters, not nearly as
beautiful, I have found suitable
husbands, princes of wealth and
fame, homes rich as palaces. I’ve
married them up, positioned them
well, assured their futures and yet
still they are jealous. When will
peace come to our house?

MOTHER

You’ve done very well husband,
now you question?

APHRODITE

(fuming to herself)
No soul in my temple…
They follow her around…

FATHER

Any solution like sand from my
fingertips…

MOTHER

Perhaps Psyche requires someone
other than a Prince?

FATHER

WHO? A lover from the fields? A
man of simple means? Diminished
wealth for the most beautiful woman
in all of Greece who rivals the
Goddesses? NO!

APHRODITE

HOW DARE HE!!

(Simultaneously with Aphrodite & Mother) 

MOTHER

Hush! You will offend a goddess!!

PERFORMER 1

I trust that you will find a way dear.

MOTHER AND APHRODITE

I trust that you will find a way dear!

EROS

A way to what, mother? 

APHRODITE

Find a way to get rid of that
creature!

EROS

Who, mother?

APHRODITE

(points Psyche out below)
That one! Look how they fawn on
her…she’s a mortal. EROS come
look at HER!!! 

Eros moves to the edge of the rock and peers down at
Psyche – he is struck…fumbles back from the edge –
almost frightened.

PERFORMER 1

Once we discussed how I was so in love,
sick by it. I thought he was perfect. You told
me that it wasn’t really him, it was all the
things I wanted to be.

MOTHER

Psyche must marry for love.

FATHER

Kronos moves in spite! The hour of
her marriage must not exceed her
youth, when beauty is no longer her
greatest compliment.

PERFORMER 1

We often looked at each other.

MOTHER

Her heart is her strength, her will
and place. Let us counsel the Gods,
let Apollo be your guide!

FATHER

Yes! Tomorrow is the 7th day of the
month, we are fortuitous,
The Pythia’s mind is open and
should find the answer we seek with
true blessing. The Great Oracle will
know how to get our daughter a
husband (in unison with
Aphrodite).

Father and Mother re-join Psyche & sisters, all move
through the crowds off stage. Lights dim to darkness
below on the scene until only Aphrodite and Eros are
illuminated on the rock above. 

APHRODITE

(to herself)
Yes… If she marries… Marries
some horrible thing… Let her beauty
dissolve from her through
pain…Why she deserves a husband
does she not?

Eros nods his head yes. Aphrodite turns to her son.

APHRODITE

My beautiful son, my love, my joy…
I entreat you! Ensure me, your most
beautiful mother, gets her revenge on
this foul creature! Punish her I say.
Do this for me and all your frightful
exploits that have gone before shall
be forgiven, even those you have
caused in my name! Make this
dreadful girl fall desperately in love
with the most wretched of untamed
creatures! Yes! Marry her off to
some horrid beast and trap her
forever in those abominable bonds of
love.

She kisses Eros and exits.

EROS

(reverently)
Psyche.

Eros spreads his wings and flies from the
rock to the
city streets below, now in darkness.

BLACK OUT

PERFORMER 1

She was supposed to kiss him deeply.

ACT I

Scene 2 

Exterior town of Phocis on Mt. Parnassus. The seventh
day of the month when Apollo’s Oracle at Delphi is
available to see followers. Father and Mother dressed
for travel, worn and worried. Pythia silent, is being
smudged by a servant, flowers placed in her hair,
dressed in a white flowing gown and anointed with
oils. Prayers are heard in the surrounding halls. The
Oracle’s tripod is set and steadied for her. She drinks
from a ceremonial vessel and chews some laurel
leaves. Soft music is heard.

ATTENDANT PRIESTESS

All is ready.

Father and mother enter and prostrate themselves before the Oracle.

ATTENDANT PRIESTESS

Your request of Apollo’s Oracle of Delphi? 

FATHER

I have 3 daughters of great beauty,
the eldest two I have easily married
to Kings, the youngest has no
suitors, she is admired by all but
never loved. Though she follows the
rites of Aphrodite’s temple in
devotion she is not a priestess and
must be married soon. Is there a
curse to be lifted? Have we offended
a Goddess? Must we make an
offering to one of the Gods? What
should we do to find a husband for
our daughter, Psyche?

PYTHIA

(in trance)
You O King will never see your last
daughter married and thereby you
will pay for your arrogance. To
prevent her untimely death, you must
chain her onto that dark craggy rock
which all dread. Only in the loss of
sight shall she be taken up by those
whom all fear in the terror of the
night.

Father erupts in grief and tears.

FATHER

Oh my little child…. 

FADE LIGHTS:  Play recorded version of Pythia’s
verse.

BLACK OUT

ACT I

Scene 3

Psyche in black mourning clothes. The family escort
her living corpse not to her marriage but her funeral.
All save Psyche weep and wail. A lute plays a death
march.

PSYCHE

Why do you weep? It pains me more
than you know to see such tears. I
know not why Aphrodite has first
blessed and then cursed me. But,
fearful as I am, I must accept this
fate provided by all those gifts
bestowed on me from loving and
jealous eyes.

Mother cries out. 

FATHER

The warnings of heaven must be obeyed.

Father fastens the chains around Psyche's wrists. The
girl’s unhappy parents and sisters make their way
homeward.

PSYCHE

I tremble now…

The sound of the lute fades as darkness falls around Psyche.

The crunch of leaves is heard and then turn clearly into 4-legged footsteps. 

The dance chorus slowly forms cloud-like dark
unidentifiable shapes then become large and small
animals (dragon, bear, wolf, rat, snake) moving around
her and toward her, smelling her, circling her.

Psyche stifles her own cries of terror.

In the distance and darkness the sobbing and wailing
of Father and Mother are heard. 

PSYCHE

(sobbing)
FATHER… MOTHER… 

MOTHER

(V.O.)
It is done now…we can only surrender to this fate. 

PSYCHE

Oh senses, do you abandon me?
Their voices… I did hear them…
Madness overtakes me…

On top of the rock we see the silhouette of a creature
emerging slowly from behind. Psyche, sensing she is
not alone, flattens herself against the rock. The
silhouette studies her from above. The night creatures
come closer and begin to growl. Psyche curls in terror.
The silhouette stands and unfurls its great wings
creating a deafening sound and a great wind is felt
across the stage, scattering the night creatures away.
The winged silhouette figure draws out a bow, aiming
at its target in the darkness.

PSYCHE

Are you my serpent husband?
Whatever you are, take me,
I embrace my fate! EMBRACE ME!
I EMBRACE YOU!

PERFORMER 2 goes to the table and takes
the needle off the record.

The creature lowers its bow.

PERFORMER 1

I loved that moment.