The Odyssey
by Homer

Name: The Odyssey
Brand: Homer
SKU: 9780374523879
Rating: 3.82 (229 reviews)

The Odyssey Book Cover — The Odyssey Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

105 minsGreek/Roman/BiblicalEnsemble CastBare Stage/Simple SetPeriod CostumesBritish

Synopsis

With its inspired counterpointing of Homeric and Caribbean themes, Derek Walcott's new play, commissioned by Britain's Royal Shakespeare Company, springs from the same imaginative sources as his epic poem Omeros.

Episodes of the story of Odysseus' protracted wanderings from fallen Troy to his island home of Ithaca are pungently interspersed with a commentary by the blind singer Billy Blue.

Proteus, the Old Man of the Sea, the giant Cyclops, Circe and her revellers, ghosts, and mermaids are among the cast.

With its vast sweep and richly figurative language, The Odyssey confirms that Derek Walcott is as compelling a playwright as he is a poet.

"[The Odyssey features Walcott's] voluptuous metaphor making and severe truth telling."--Time

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
A Stranger Odysseus disguised as an old man	—	—	Odysseus disguised as an old man
Penelope Odysseus's wife	female	—	Odysseus's wife
Telemachus their son, 21	—	—	their son, 21
Athena goddess of Wisdom	—	—	goddess of Wisdom
Calypso a seductive nymph	—	—	a seductive nymph
Polyphemus a wicked, giant Cyclops	—	—	a wicked, giant Cyclops
Circe a bewitching sorceress	—	—	a bewitching sorceress
Nurse an old nurse in Ithaca	—	—	an old nurse in Ithaca
Scylla a monster with six female heads	female	—	a monster with six female heads
The Sirens magical women spirits with enticing voices	—	—	magical women spirits with enticing voices
6 Suitors six men fighting for Penelope's hand	—	—	six men fighting for Penelope's hand
Odysseus'S Men Greek warriors on his ship	male	—	Greek warriors on his ship
Handmaidens in the palace in Ithaca	—	—	in the palace in Ithaca
Odysseus King of Ithaca	male	—	King of Ithaca