Download The Peloponnesian War

 1 The Peloponnesian War Cast List Narrator-­‐ Storyteller Darius-­‐ King of Persia Xerxes – Darius’s son Themistocles-­‐ Greek Military genius that hated the Persians Traitor-­‐ Man who pretended to commit treason Persian army-­‐ Army of men who belong to Persian land Athenian army-­‐ Army of men who belong to Greece Scene 1 Darius: “I want to conquer the world and all that is left is the puny morsel of Athens and Greece!” Narrator: Darius is the emperor of Persia and he tried to take over the known world of the Mediterranean. His current empire stretched from modern Turkey to the Himalayas and that was not enough for him. Darius: “Troops, get ready. We are to take the entire world to ourselves.” Persian army: “All hail Darius, All hail Darius!” (All Exit The Stage) Scene 2 Narrator: “As Darius marches with his army toward Greece, the Greeks have developed a government called democracy in which everyone, and including general citizens have a say in the result. The Persians have landed on the shore of a city called Marathon, a mere 26 miles from their target, Athens.” (Persian army marches back on stage led by Darius) Narrator: “The Persians have landed and the news has shoot through the streets like wildfire. Soon the Greek Army gathered and charged onto the beach.” (Athenian army with Themistocles charges on stage in triangular formation onto the Persian army) 2 Darius: “Charge!!!” (Persian army marches forward, when both armies clash, Persian fly into disarray and battle continues for few seconds. The Persians have all fallen to the ground, while only a quarter of the Athenian army have fallen down, Darius is still standing, then turns and runs off the stage) Athenian army: “Hooray, we defeated them!” Themistocles: “Do you not think they will be back?” Athenian army: “No, they will never ever show their face in our presence!” Scene 3 Narrator: “Darius soon dies and his son Xerxes over takes his place in power.” (Xerxes walks on stage) Xerxes: “I vow that I shall conquer all of Greece if it is the last thing I do. My father failed but this new plan is foolproof. Army assembles!” (Persian army enters stage and bows in front of Xerxes) Xerxes: “Army, follow me!” (Persian army follows Xerxes out) Scene 4 (Themistocles walks on) Themistocles: “Hmm… I believe the Persians will attack us, but I cannot tell that to the Athenians, it would be too soon to mention the Persians to them. A navy of triremes would be an effective defense but they are extremely expensive! Aha! I heard an old man found a cavern of silver the other day but everyone wants to divide it amongst themselves. I can make them use the silver on the ships but I have to convince them first.” Narrator: “Triremes were long ships powered by sails and nearly accommodate 300 men. It has a long metal block in the front. The metal block is used to ram holes in the hulls of boat causing them to sink.” (Athenian army walks on) 3 Themistocles: “Hey Athenians!” (Athenian army looks toward Themistocles) Themistocles: “Fellow Athenians, remember those nasty Persians, what if they attack again?” Athenian army: “They won’t attack!” Themistocles: “But what if they do and by sea, if that is what those nasty Persians do the next time they come, we are doomed! The silver that was in the caverns can be used to buy a navy of triremes.” Athenian army: “ I don’t want to spend the silver on some useless triremes! “ Themistocles: “What would we do if the Persians attacked by sea, would we cover and surrender because of a lack of triremes or would we charge out there with our powerful and unbeatable army and crush their ships to bits of wood?” Athenian army: “I would go out there and crush their ships but…” Themistocles: “How would we afford those expensive triremes?” Athenian army: “With the silver!” Themistocles: “Now, what do you think we should do?” Athenian army: “Triremes, Triremes, Triremes!” (Themistocles runs off stage) Scene 5 Narrator: Themistocles consulted the oracle of Delphi. An oracle is a person supposed to predict the future. She said “Why sit here doomed ones, all that will be left of Athens is the wooden wall!” (Themistocles runs back on) Themistocles: “She said ‘All will fall but a wooden wall.’ ” Athenian army: (mumbles) “I believe it must be the safe zone in the center of the city!” Themistocles: “No, it is the wooden fleet of triremes at the coast. Men get in the boats and set sail to the nearby island of Salamis.” 4 Athenian army: “Yeah, that makes more sense!” Scene 6 Narrator: “Xerxes has marched down south to Greece with his massive army. He has reached Thermopylae. 1,800 Greek soldiers attempt to defend against the Persians. A traitor told Xerxes how to use the mountainside as an advantage to attack at he flanks of the army and so the Greeks were beat. Now they are coming to Athens.” Themistocles: “Men get in your triremes and sail to the nearby island of Salamis.” (Athenians walk off)(Persians and Xerxes walk on) Xerxes: “Army take your torch and burn everything to the ground. What a pity, the Athenians, those cowards, left their home city unguarded.” Persian Army: (laughs) Scene 7 Narrator: “Traitor walks toward Xerxes and Persians.” Traitor: “Lord Xerxes, I have a message. The Greeks tremble on the island of Salamis. They have a small fleet of ships in the straight of Salamis. Send your huge army force and smash their ships to bits.” Xerxes: “I see, you are a Greek rebel? Are you not?” Traitor: “Yes I am.” Xerxes: “Then this is the perfect time to turn my hook on those Greeks!” Narrator: “This traitor wasn’t really a traitor. He was sent by Themistocles to pretend to be one.” Scene 8 Narrator: (Xerxes and Persian on a fake boat) Narrator: The Persian fleet is nine times greater but aren’t triremes. This a major advantage to the Greeks. (Themistocles and Athenian on a fake boat) 5 Themistocles: “So you feel for the fake traitor trick, ha?” Xerxes: “Fake traitor? You tricked me!” Themistocles: “Oh and you notice our boat crushing triremes.” Xerxes: (growls.) Themistocles: “Try retreating. I shall give you the chance.” Xerxes: “Never, but just back up a bit.” Persians: “Sorry we can not.” Xerxes: “Why not?” Persians: “We have so many ships. We cannot turn or move and we are stuck at the edge. We can only go forward.” Xerxes: “Then charge.” Themistocles: “You heard the man, charge!” (Athenian and Persians pretend to row for 10-­‐30 seconds) Xerxes: “Omph!! We are hit, we are sinking.” Persians: “Gagggg …drowning…..”(drowning and dies) Xerxes: “Blah, gaugh,….you…mon…..sterrrrr……”(Xerxes dies) (Xerxes and Persians drown) Themistocles: “He is dead. We have victory.” THE END