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The Exile and the Onion Girl by Lindsay Price play script cover

The Exile and the Onion Girl

adapted by Lindsay Price Canadian Author from Aeschylus' The Libation Bearers

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.

Drama Character Study Choral Work Classical Adaptation Movement-based

Recommended for High Schools

At a Glance

Running Time
About 35 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
10 Characters
4 M 6 F
Plus Domestics (chorus)
Set
Simple set
Length
33 pages
Free Excerpt

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Performance Royalty Fees

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.

10 Characters

  • 4 Males
  • 6 Females
  • 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 Male 18 lines
    Ruler of the Kingdom of Argos
  • QUEEN NESS Female 49 lines
    Married to King Is, previously married to King He-Who-Will-Not-Be-Named
  • ORE Male 84 lines
    17. Son to Ness, brother to Onee, sent away 10 years previously to Phocis. One Monologue.
  • ONEE Female 75 lines
    16. Daughter to Ness, sister to Ore (sometimes called Ellie). One Monologue.
  • TY Male 12 lines
    Aide to King Is. One Monologue.
  • KAY Female 19 lines
    Aide to Queen Ness
  • LADES Male 44 lines
    Friend to Ore, foreigner from Phocis who doesn’t understand Argos ways
  • HESTER Female 20 lines
    Head Chef, Sister to Hesper
  • HESPER Female 34 lines
    Head Housekeeper, Sister to Hester
  • EM Female 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.

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From the Drama Teacher Learning Centre

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Student Drama Success: The Exile and the Onion Girl

The Exile and the Onion Girl by Lindsay Price is a vividly modern adaptation of Aeschylus’ play, The Libation Bearers. Ore has been exiled for 10 years, working as a goat herder. Onee has been...
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