The Exile and the Onion Girl adapted by Lindsay Price... - Theatrefolk

The Exile and the Onion Girl

Recommended for High Schools

The Exile and the Onion Girl

adapted by Lindsay Price from Aeschylus' The Libation Bearers

A vividly modern adaptation of Aeschylus' play The Libation Bearers.

 About 35 minutes

Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks

 10
4 M | 6 W, Plus Domestics (chorus)

Simple set

 33 pages

Drama Character Study Choral Work Classical Adaptation Movement-based

Ore has been exiled for 10 years, working as a goat herder. Onee has been banished to the kitchen – 10 years is a long time to cut onions. Their mother murdered their father and it's time to avenge his death.

Who cares if all Onee wants is her mother's love? Who cares if Ore can't remember what his father sounds like?

In Argos, it's an eye for an eye, blood for blood, and watch what you say in front of the Domestics. They're always watching, always listening. But blood is very complicated. And more blood doesn't necessarily solve problems.

A vividly modern adaptation of Aeschylus' play The Libation Bearers.

10 Characters
4 M, 6 W, Plus Domestics (chorus)

Characters in this play are currently identified as male or female. Directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.

KING IS [M] 18 lines
Ruler of the Kingdom of Argos
QUEEN NESS [W] 49 lines
Married to King Is, previously married to King He-Who-Will-Not-Be-Named
ORE [M] 84 lines
17. Son to Ness, brother to Onee, sent away 10 years previously to Phocis. One Monologue.
ONEE [W] 75 lines
16. Daughter to Ness, sister to Ore (sometimes called Ellie). One Monologue.
TY [M] 12 lines
Aide to King Is. One Monologue.
KAY [W] 19 lines
Aide to Queen Ness
LADES [M] 44 lines
Friend to Ore, foreigner from Phocis who doesn’t understand Argos ways
HESTER [W] 20 lines
Head Chef, Sister to Hesper
HESPER [W] 34 lines
Head Housekeeper, Sister to Hester
EM [W] 15 lines
Scullery Maid - From Delphi. One Monologue.
THE DOMESTICS
Barbara, Dexter, Kyle, Boris,Percy, Josie, Scarlet, Blair, John 37 lines
Butlers and Maids; always in sight but often ignored. Chorus.

Subgenres
Adaptation Choral work

Settings
Greek Present day

Dress
Contemporary costumes

Audience
Pre-teen Teen

Features
Mime Poetry Tableau Opportunity for spectacle Choral work

Set
Simple set Exterior set Interior set

Cautions
Gun shots Adult themes Onstage murder

Themes
Adolescence Betrayal Death Parenting/Family Obedience Morality Jealousy Revenge Personal responsibility

Cross-Curricular Uses
Greek

Other uses
Competition Monologues Audition material Class work Scene work

Prop List

Empty bag, armful of provisions, red ribbons, Props for Domestics (brooms, dusting tools, laundry to fold), clipboard, bowl of onions, empty bowl, knife, aprons, butcher’s block, bottle of water, carafe of oil, jug, dagger
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Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.

Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.

Related Titles

We accept orders worldwide using the following payment methods:
Purchase Orders accepted from US and Canadian Schools.
Info for your purchasing department.

A vignette play is a collection of short scenes on a theme. You'll love working with the variety and flexibility of the scenes. Your actors will love the fast pace and fun characters.

There's more. Every Theatrefolk vignette play holds the unexpected. A showcase monologue. A dramatic moment. A change in form. A left turn.

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