ERYSICHTHON’S
MYTH
Scene 1
(The dryads are hidden behind the trees)
Dryad 1: Hey! Sisters! There’s nobody in the forest. Let’s get out and play!!!
(They appear in the scene and they play with a ball)
Dryad 2: I’ve got an idea. Let’s dance. Let’s call Apollo the father of music.
Dr. 4, 3, 2, and 1: Apollo, god of music, god of light, we the dryads, daughters of Dimitra who live in the trees would like to honour you with our dance. Please let the sound of music guide our steps.
(The dryads start to dance. When the music stops, they sit on the grass.)
Dr 4: We are so happy here! The forest our home is the best place on earth! We can hear the birds sing, we can see the insects fly from leaf to leaf, we can hear the wolves howl, and we can smell the wood!! It’s amazing!!
Dr 3: It’s marvelous!!
Dr 4: Yes, but sometimes I’m afraid
Dr 1: You’re afraid, why?
Dr 2: Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night because of a terrible nightmare. I see this horrible man coming after me with his axe.
Dr 1: Sisters don’t be afraid! Men respect gods. They respect our mother Dimitra and they know that if they cut a tree, they kill one of us her daughters.
Dr 2: I hear footsteps. Let’s hide.
Scene 2
(Woodcutters are coming into the scene. They are holding axes.)
Woodcutter 1: Let’s start to work. The king Erysichthon ordered us to cut all the trees of this forest. He said he wants to build a new chamber in his palace
Woodcutter 2: Let’s hurry. I don’t agree with the king’s order. Dimitra, the goddess of agriculture will be after us. But an order from the king is an order. Blame it on him!
Dimitra, please forgive us!
(They cut all the trees of the scene. The dryads die and they lie down in the middle of the scene)
Scene 3
Dimitra: This is incredible! This is outrageous! I must be dreaming. Who has dared to do such a thing? My daughters are dead. Mortals BEWARE of my rage.
Hunger! Hunger!
I order you to appear in front of me at once!
Hunger: Here I am your highness!
Dimitra: Find who’s responsible for this evil deed and punish him!
Show no mercy!!!!
Hunger: Right away your majesty!
Scene 4
(The king Erysichthon is sleeping on a sofa in the middle of the scene.)
Hunger: There you are, you wicked animal! You think you are great! You think you dominate this earth!
You’ll realize soon enough that nothing belongs to you. Your kingdom will vanish into thin air!
(Hunger leaves the scene after having blown upon the king’s face. He wakes up very hungry and calls his servants. He claps his hands.)
King: Servants! Servants! Where are you?
I command you to appear immediately!!
Servant 1: At your services your majesty!
King: I’m very hungry. Bring me food!
(Servant 2 brings a tray with lots of food)
King: More! I want more!
(Servant 1 brings another tray)
King: More!! That’s not enough!!! There’s nothing to ease my hunger
Servant 1: Your highness!! There’s nothing left in the cellar.
(The dryads enter the scene.)
Dr 1: Can you imagine the end of the myth?
Dr 2: The king lost all his fortune on buying food.
Dr 3: He died very poor.
Dr 4: He died from starvation.
Dryads (1, 2, 3, and 4): We’ve got a message for you humans! Respect the forest! Respect nature! Otherwise you will suffer the consequences!!!
The end