What adventures will King Midas, Hercules, and Atlas have

19 Pages·2010·0.93 MB·English

What adventures will King Midas, Hercules,
and Atlas have today?!
WHAT?
King Midas and His Friends
WHEN?
October 19 - November 19, 2010
WHERE?
Actors’ Playhouse at the
Miracle Theatre
CONTENTS
Original Myths and their History.........p. 2-9
Audience Wanted.......................................p. 10
Typical Field Trip Day.................................p. 11
Poetry Corner & Prop Search.................p. 12
Word Search.................................................p. 13
Connect and Color Me.......................p. 14-15
Welcome to Actors’ Playhouse Theatre for Young Arachne's "Web" Search............................p.16
Audiences. We hope that you enjoy the show and that Individual & Group Projects....................p.17
attendance at live theatre will become a regular part of Sunshine Standard Activities..............p.18-19
your entertainment activities.
We have prepared this Student Enrichment Guide to help
in your understanding and appreciation of the show. We
Actors’ Playhouse
encourage teachers to make full use of this guide and to
at the Miracle Theatre
download, or print as many copies for your students as
280 Miracle Mile
you wish. If you have further questions about this, or any
Coral Gables, Fl. 33134
future productions at Actors’ Playhouse, please do not
www.actorsplayhouse.org
hesitate to call us at 305-444-9293 X606.
305-444-9293
Actors’ Playhouse Student Enrichment Guide P 2
O r i g i n a l v e r s i o n s o f t h e M y t h s u s e d i n
K i n g M i d a s a n d H i s F r i e n d s
Following are some original versions of the myths used in the show.
Compare these versions to the adaptations used in the production. What
is the same? What is different? Do all of the stories have morals or are
some used by the people of the time to explain the things around them
because they could not explain them scientifically?
King Midas - Ancient Myth
King Midas is a legend that many of us have at least heard of sometime during our lives. As the
legend goes, Bacchus found his school master who was also his foster father Silenus had disap-
peared. Silenus had been drink and had wandered off. Silenus was found by peasants and took
him to King Midas. Midas knew who he was immediately and took care of him for ten days and
nights until he recovered.
On the eleventh day, King Midas took him back to his school where he could begin to teach
again. Bacchus was so overjoyed that he asked King Midas what he would like for repayment
of his troubles and his great care for the old school master. King Midas did not think very long
before he exclaimed the words, I would like everything I touch to turn to gold. Bacchus granted
King Midas his wish and he went on his way.
He was amazed as he headed back toward home, everything he touched from a twig on a tree to
a rock turned magically into gold. King Midas was overjoyed with his new found talent.
Once he arrived at home, he ordered the servants to prepare a wonderful feast. Then the bad news
hit King Midas, everything he touched during the feast turned to gold. He could not eat a bite of
food or take a drink of wine, as it would immediately turn to gold.
He began to hate this precious gift as he was slowing starving to death. He raised his arms to
Bacchus and begged to be delivered from this curse. Bacchus then told King Midas. "Go, to the
river Pactolus, trace the stream to its fountain-head, there plunge in your head and body and
wash away your fault and its punishment."
King Midas did just as Bacchus instructed and shortly afterward, the sands of the river turned to
gold. It is believed the sand of the Pactolus River still has sands of gold.
POSSIBLE MORAL: Be Careful what you wish for!
Actors’ Playhouse Student Enrichment Guide P 3
Demeter and Persephone
Demeter, was in charge of the harvest. All the gods jobs were important. Demeter's job was very important.
If she was upset, the crops could die. Everyone, gods and mortals, worked hard to keep Demeter happy. What
made her happy was enjoying the company of her daughter, Persephone.
Persephone
had grown into a beautiful young woman, with a smile for everyone. One day, while picking flowers in the
fields, Hades, her uncle, the god of the underworld, noticed her. Hades was normally a gloomy fellow. But
Persephone’s beauty had dazzled him. He fell in love instantly. Quickly, before anyone could interfere, he kid-
napped Persephone and hurled his chariot down into the darkest depths of the underworld, taking Persephone
with him.
Locked in a room in the Hall of Hades, Persephone cried and cried. She refused to speak to Hades.
And she refused to eat. Legend said if you ate anything in Hades, you could never leave. She did not know if
the legend was true, but she did not want to risk it in case someone came to rescue her.
Nearly a week went by. Finally, unable to bear her hunger, Persephone ate six pomegranate seeds. It seemed
her fate was sealed. She would have to live in the Underworld forever.
Meanwhile, back on earth, Zeus was worried about the crops. The people would die if the crops failed.
If that happened, who would worship Zeus? He had to do something. Zeus did what he often did. He sent
Hermes, his youngest son, the messenger, to crack a deal, this time with Hades.
Even as a baby, Hermes was great at making deals. Everyone knew that. But this deal might be the challenge
of his life. His uncle Hades, king of the underworld, was really in love. This was no passing fancy.
When Hermes heard that Persephone had eaten six pomegranate seeds, he had to think quickly. The deal he
made with Hades was that if Persephone would marry Hades, she would live as queen of the underworld for
six months out of the year. However, each spring, Persephone would return and live on earth for the other six
months of the year. Hades agreed. Zeus agreed. Persephone agreed. And finally, Demeter agreed.
Each spring, Demeter makes sure all the flowers bloom in welcome when her daughter, Queen of the Under-
world, returns to her. Each fall, when Persephone returns to Hades, Demeter cries, and lets all the crops die
until spring, when the cycle starts again.
GREEKS used this myth to explain the change in seasons.
Glaucus and Scylla Actors’ Playhouse Student Enrichment Guide P 4
Glaucus was a fisherman. One day he had drawn his nets to land, and had taken a great many fishes of various kinds. So he emptied
his net, and proceeded to sort the fishes on the grass. The place where he stood was a beautiful island in the river, a solitary spot,
uninhabited, and not used for pasturge of cattle, nor ever visited by any but himself. On a sudden, the fishes, which had been laid on
the grass, began to revive and move their fins as if they were in the water; and while he looked on astonished, they one and all moved
off to the water, plunged in and swam away. He did not know what to make of this, whether some god had done it, or some secret
power in the herbage. "What herb has such a power?" he exclaimed; and gathering some, he tasted it. Scarce had the juices of the
plant reached his palate when he found himself agitated with a longing desire for the water. He could no longer restrain himself, but
bidding farewell to earth, he plunged into the stream. The gods of the water received him graciously, and admitted him to the honor
of their society. They obtained the consent of Oceanus and Tethys, the sovereigns of the sea, that all that was mortal in him should be
washed away. A hundred rivers poured their waters over him . Then he lost all sense of his former nature and all consciousness. When
he recovered, he found himself changed in form and mind. His hair was sea-green, and trailed behind him on the water; his shoulders
grew broad, and what had been thighs and legs assumed the form of a fish's tail. The sea-gods complimented him on the change of his
appearance, and he himself was pleased with his looks.
One day Glaucus saw the beautiful maiden Scylla, the favorite of the water-nymphs, rambling on the shore, and when she had found
a sheltered nook, laving her limbs in the clear water. He fell in love with her, and showing himself on the surface, spoke to her, saying
such things as he thought most likely to win her to stay; for she turned to run immediately on sight of him and ran till she had gained
a cliff overlooking the sea. Here she stopped and turned round to see whether it was a god or a sea-animal, and observed with wonder
his shape and color. Glaucus, partly emerging from the water, and supporting himself against a rock, said, "Maiden, I am no monster,
nor a sea-animal, but a god; and neither Proteus nor Triton ranks higher than I. Once I was a mortal, and followed the sea for a living;
but now I belong wholly to it." Then he told the story of his metamorphosis and how he had been promoted to his present dignity, and
added, "But what avails all this if it fails to move your heart?" He was going on in this strain, but Scylla turned and hastened away.
Glaucus was in despair, but it occurred to him to consult the enchantress, Circe. Accordingly he repaired to her island, the same
where afterwards Ulysses landed, as we shall see in another story. After mutual salutations, he said, "Goddess, I entreat your pity;
you alone can relieve the pain I suffer. The power of herbs I know as well as any one, for it is to them I owe my change of form I love
Scylla. I am ashamed to tell you how I have sued and promised to her, and how scornfully she has treated me. I beseech you to use
your incantations, or potent herbs, if they are more prevailing, not to cure me of my love, for that I do not wish, but to make her share
it and yield me a like return." To which Circe replied, for she was not insensible to the attractions of the sea-green deity, "You had
better pursue a willing object; you are worthy to be sought, instead of having to seek in vain. Be not diffident, know your own worth.
I protest to you that even I, goddess though I be, and learned in the virtues of plants and spells, should not know how to refuse you If
she scorns you, scorn her; meet one who is ready to meet you half way, and thus make a due return to both at once." To these words
Glaucus replied, "Sooner shall trees grow at the bottom of the ocean, and seaweed on the top of the mountains, than I will cease to
love Scylla, and her alone."
The goddess was indignant, but she could not punish him, neither did she wish to do so, for she liked him too well; so she turned
all her wrath against her rival, poor Scylla. She took plants of poisonous powers and mixed them together, with incantations and
charms. Then she passed through the crowd of gambolling beasts, the victims of her art, and proceeded to the coast of Sicily, where
Scylla lived. There was a little bay on the shore to which Scylla used to resort, in the heat of the day, to breathe the air of the sea,
and to bathe in its waters. Here the goddess poured her poisonous mixture, and muttered over it incantations of mighty power. Scylla
came as usual and plunged into the water up to her waist. What was her horror to perceive a brood of serpents and barking monsters
surrounding her! At first she could not imagine they were a part of herself, and tried to run from them, and to drive them away; but
as she ran she carried them with her, and when she tried to touch her limbs, she found her hands touch only the yawning jaws of mon-
sters. Scylla remained rooted to the spot. Her temper grew as ugly as her form, and she took pleasure in devouring hapless mariners
who came within her grasp. Thus she destroyed six of the companions of Ulysses, and tried to wreck the ships of Aeneas, till at last
she was turned into a rock, and as such still continues to be a terror to mariners.
DRAWS a comparison to Glaucus' rejection by Scylla and dangerous, rocky shores. A modern interpretation
might be to accept those that are different.
Actors’ Playhouse Student Enrichment Guide P 5

Athena, Arachne and the Weaving Contest
In a small town of Ledia there once lived a beautiful maiden with the name Arachne. Arachne was famous in
town for being a very skillful weaver and spinner and every day many girls and Nereids were stopping by to
see her weave.
Arachne was very vain and couldn’t stop boasting about her talent, claiming that she had learned the skill all
by herself and that there was no one else in the world who could weave as delicately as her; she even felt she
could compete against Athena, the goddess of the skills, and win her with ease.
When Athena heard these words, she got disappointed and decided to disguise as an old lady and appear in
front of Arachne. “My dear”, she told Arachne,” I am old and have much experience from life, so let me give
you one advice: don’t ever mess up with a goddess; no mortal can compete against Athena, take back your
words and kindly ask for forgiveness.”
Arachne was furious and threw the thread against the old woman, telling her: “I don’t need your advice, I know
best what I can do! If Athena really dares, then she should come here and compete against me.”
At that moment, the old woman transformed herself into the radiant goddess Athena. On her sight, everybody
in the room kneeled down in awe; not so Arachne who couldn’t wait to compete against her.
So the competition started and both contestants were doing really well; Athena was weaving the Parthenon and
her contest with god Poseidon; Arachne, on the other hand, was making fun of the gods by weaving scenes of
gods full of weaknesses and fears.
Arachne’s work seemed to be perfect technically, yet was not beautiful because it was showing disregard of the
gods. Athena was very offended and told Arachne: “You may be foolish and stubborn, but you love your skill.
So why don’t you go ahead and spin forever!”
Having that said, Athena sprinkled her with the juice of magical herbs and the body of Arachne transformed
into a small and ugly animal, which nowadays is known as the spider. From that moment on Arachne has been
cursed to be trapped inside her own web, weaving constantly and endlessly but having all her works destroyed
by man.
RESPECT those that are older and wiser than you!
HERCULES and ATLAS Actors’ Playhouse Student Enrichment Guide P 6
Labor 11 - The Apples of the Hesperides
Eurystheus set Hercules on the extra task of fetching the golden apples from the Hesperides
that had been given to Zeus as a wedding gift and were guarded by a dragon with 100 heads,
offspring of Typhon and Echidna. On this journey he wrestled Nereus for information and An-
taeus to pass through his country of Libya. On his travels he found Prometheus and destroyed
the eagle that was eating his liver. Prometheus told Hercules not to go after the apples himself,
but to send Atlas instead. When Hercules reached the land of the Hyperboreans, where Atlas
held the heavens, Hercules volunteered to hold the heavens while Atlas got the apples. Atlas did
so, but didn't want to resume the burden, so he said he'd carry the apples to Eurystheus. Trick-
ily, Hercules agreed, but asked Atlas to take back the heavens for a moment so he could rest a
pad on his head. Atlas agreed and Hercules went away with the apples. When he gave them to
Eurystheus, the king returned them. Hercules gave them to Athena to return them to the Hesper-
ides.
BRAINS triumphs over brawn!
PYGMALION
In Greek mythology, Pygmalion was a king of the island of Cyprus and a sculptor. He spent
many years carving an ivory statue of a woman more beautiful than any living female.
Pygmalion became fascinated by his sculpture and fell in love with it. He pretended it was an
actual woman. He brought it presents and treated it as if it were alive. However, the statue could
not respond to his attentions, and Pygmalion became miserable. Finally, he prayed to Aphro-
dite, the goddess of love, to bring him a woman like his statue. Aphrodite did even better. She
brought the statue to life. Pygmalion married this woman, often called Galatea, who gave birth
to a daughter (some versions of the story say the child was a boy).
Read more: Pygmalion - Myth Encyclopedia - mythology, Greek, story, life, king http://www.
mythencyclopedia.com/Pr-Sa/Pygmalion.html#ixzz12BltM2bx
THERE is no such thing as a "perfect" friend, mate or companion.
PANDORA'S BOX Actors’ Playhouse Student Enrichment Guide P 7
Zeus ordered Hephaestus (Aphrodite's husband) to make him a daughter. It was the first wom-
an made out of clay. Hephaestus made a beautiful woman and named her Pandora.
Zeus sent his new daughter, Pandora, down to earth so that she could marry Epimetheus,
who was a gentle but lonely man. Zeus was not being kind. He was getting even. Epimetheus
and Prometheus were brothers. Zeus was mad at one of the brothers, Prometheus, for giving
people fire without asking Zeus first.
That was a very wrong thing to do. Fire was huge! Zeus had not planned to reward people
with fire for a very long time yet. Zeus did not even get the credit for the invention of fire. That
went to Prometheus. Zeus was furious. If the brothers wanted credit for new inventions, Zeus
would be glad to help them get the credit they deserved.
Zeus gave Pandora a little box with a big heavy lock on it. He made her promise never to
open the box. He gave the key to Pandora’s husband and told him to never open the box. Zeus
was sure that Epimetheus' curiosity would get the better of him, and that either Epimetheus or
his brother would open the box.
Pandora was very curious. She wanted to see what was inside the box, but Epimetheus said
no. Better not. "You know your father," Epimetheus sighed, referring to Zeus. "He’s a tricky
one."
One day, when Epimetheus lay sleeping, Pandora stole the key and opened the box.
Out flew every kind of disease and sickness, hate and envy, and all the bad things that people
had never experienced before. Pandora slammed the lid closed, but it was too late. All the bad
things were already out of the box. They flew away, out into the world.
Epimetheus woke up at the sound of her sobbing. “I opened the box and all these ugly things
flew out,” she cried. “I tried to catch them, but they all got out.” Pandora opened the box to
show him how empty it was. But the box was not quite empty. One tiny bug flew quickly out
before Pandora could slam the lid shut again.
“Hello, Pandora,” said the bug, hovering just out of reach. “My name is Hope.” With a nod
of thanks for being set free, Hope flew out into the world, a world that now held Envy, Crime,
Hate, and Disease – and Hope.
NO MATTER how bad things are ALWAYS remain hopeful!
The Story Of Narcissus: Actors’ Playhouse Student Enrichment Guide P 8
Once upon a time, there was a boy called Narcissus. He was the son of a god and he was very,
very handsome. Many women fell in love with him, but he turned them away. One of the
women who loved Narcissus was a nymph called Echo. Echo could not speak properly - she
could only repeat what was said to her, so she couldn't tell Narcissus that she loved him. One
day, when Narcissus was walking in the woods with some friends, he became separated from
them. He called out "Is anyone here?" Echo replied "Here, Here". Echo stepped forward with
open arms, wanting to cuddle him. But Narcissus refused to accept Echo's love. Echo was so
upset that she left and hid in a cave, until nothing was left of her, except her voice.
The Maiden, a goddess, found out about this, and she was very angry. She made Narcissus
fall in love with himself. When Narcissus looked at his reflection in a pond one day, he fell in
love. He stayed on that spot forever, until he died one day. Where he died a flower grew, and
that flower is called a Narcissus.
LOOKS can be deceiving!
The Story Of Echo:
Hera, the Queen of Mt. Olympus, cast a spell over her servant Echo for talking too much. As a
punishment, Echo could henceforth only repeat what someone else said.
Poor Echo! She was in love with handsome Narcissus, and yearned to tell him so! One day
Echo saw Narcissus admiring himself in a clear pond. Looking at his reflection, he vainly said
to the face in the water, "I love you."
Echo repeated, "I love you," and meant it. But Narcissus thought it was his reflection that
spoke and stood gazing at himself until he died and Hermes led him away to the Land of the
Dead. Echo pined for him till she, too, faded away. All that was left of her was her voice that
can still be heard in certain hollow places, senselessly repeating the words of others.
SILENCE is golden...
History Notes: ROMANS VERSUS GREEKS Actors’ Playhouse Student Enrichment Guide P 9

The ancient Romans were famous for adopting gods and legends from other cultures. Usually, they would only copy a
couple of the gods, the ones that really caught their fancy. But, when the Romans first heard about the amazing Greek
gods, they adopted them all! They pretended that they had always been Roman gods - always!
The Romans changed the names, but they did not change the legends. Zeus, king of the Greek gods, became Jupiter,
king of the Roman gods. The only name they did not change was Apollo's.
The first name listed for each god below is the Greek name for this god. The second name where listed is the Roman
name for the same god.
Meet the amazing ancient Greek gods:
Zeus/Jupiter was the most powerful of the gods. Should he have to bring order, he would hurl a thunderbolt. Share in
the adventure of Zeus, Hera, and little Io.
Hera/Juno was the wife of Zeus, and thus, the Queen. Hera was the goddess of marriage, children, and the home.
Poseidon/Neptune, the lord of the sea, was the brother of Zeus.
Hades/Pluto, another brother of Zeus, was the lord of the underworld. Come visit the River Styx! Find out how the
King of Corinth tricked the gods.
Ares/Mars, Zeus' son, was the god of war. He tall and handsome but cruel and vain.
Hermes/Mercury was Zeus' son and the messenger of the gods. Hermes was noted for his pranks as well as for his
speed.
Apollo/Apollo was Zeus' son and god of the sun, light and music. Come meet Apollo's Oracle at Delphi. What hap-
pened when Apollo fell in love with Cassandra. Learn how Apollo got his lyre.
Artemis/Diana was goddess of the hunt.
Athena/Minerva was the goddess of wisdom.
Hestia/Vesta was the goddess of hearth and home, and Hera's sister.
Demeter/Ceres was the goddess of the harvest, and Hera's other sister. Persephone was Demeter's daughter, and the
Greek's reasons for the seasons.
Aphrodite/Venus was the goddess of love and beauty.
Hephaestus/Vulcan was the son of Zeus and Hera, god of fire and forge, and the husband of Aphrodite.
Heracles/Hercules was another of Zeus' sons. He was half man, half god, and very strong.
Eros/Cupid was the son of the goddess of love. He carried a bow and arrow to shoot people. When you were shot with
Cupid's arrow, you fell in love with the very next person you saw.
Orpheus was the son of Apollo and Calliope. He was the most famous musician in all of Greece. The story of
Eurydice and Orpheus is a famous love story.
Actors’ Playhouse Student Enrichment Guide P 10
Want Ads
AUDIENCE MEMBERS WANTED!
The Director has requested that you, the audience, play the following important part in the show!
1) Respect the actors and other audience members by listening quietly during the performance.
2) Laugh (like crazy) when something funny happens--it's okay to respond to the show!
3) Show your appreciation to the actors and crew by applauding at the end of songs, scenes and espe-
cially at the end of the show, they will appreciate it.
4) Remember any questions you might have during the show so you can ask the actors and the director
at the end of the play.
5) Stay in your seat until the play is over and the actors have taken their bows. Then, wait for your
teachers to tell you where to go.
6) Food, drinks and candy are for the intermission or for after the show. We don't allow eating or
drinking in the theatre, only in the lobby.
7) Now that you know your part, ENJOY THE SHOW!

Thanks,

Earl Maulding, Director
P.S. The classroom is a great place to rehearse all of the above.