The Lysistrata Project: First-ever Worldwide Theatre Event for Peace by Sai Corson [Sarai Capael] Throughout Chicago and the suburbs, some 24 readings of Aristophanes's ribald Greek antiwar comedy Lysistrata were staged by thesbian activists on March 3 in conjunction with the New York-based international movement, which started a mere six weeks ago. Around the world, over 1009 performances of the play were staged that same day in 59 countries. All of the events offered an opportunity for concerned individuals throughout the city to come together to voice their opinions, exchange information, and generally, to rant. The antiwar organization, Not in Our Name, provided a moderator who opened up the floor for discussion after the play. This was an unprecedented worldwide theater event for peace and is a direct testimony to the power of electronic media in organizing events. The show, staged by The Red Path Theatre at Uptown's Truman College, was a hearty romp and light hearted, mostly double or triple sexual entendres and puns on the naked needs of male soldiers on their war path. The plot centered around the resolution of Lysistrata to put an end to the war, as she saw her fellow women neglected and the fields unplowed with the soldiers at war. She called together her women from various neighboring states and rallied them into her plan, after general reluctance they agreed. The seized the Acropolis (with its Treasury naturally) and from there held their line, against all battle rams and the commanding misogyny of the clearly gay Commissioner (who stole the stage with his fettered ĂŠlan). The rest of the play was a tug-of-war bandy battle of the sexes, with all the ancient slurs and quips. The actors included Maggie Rubin, Kate Cullan, Iris Overstreet, Shelagh Collins, Huu Nguyen, Carolyn Bowyer, Jenna Hastings, John Zinn, Hugo Castillo, Josh Bermont, Paul Safyan, David Shawanokasic. This production was pulled together in two weeks and it showed--everyone read from scripts, reminding the audience of the activism at hand. Despite the obvious and ancient essentialism of the old battle between the sexes--the point was well taken and timely enough. The irreverence amused onlookers, even as the conversation darkened afterwards as the audience and cast expressed their opinions and comments about the then pending war. The discussion was lively, if not one-sided, and information about protest measures was spread. A fax flood between 1 PM and 3 PM that coming Tuesday, a work strike on Wednesday, and an ongoing virtual march at move-on.org were announced. The general concerns of oil, strategic territory, family vendetta, economy, North Korea
vs. Iraq as a target -- were all aired with articulate concern. Other venues in the city included the Neo-Futurarium, the Autonomous Zone, European Repertory Company at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the New World Repertory Company in Ravenswood, the Stockyards Theatre Project in Wrigleyville, Roscoe Village's Greasy Joan and Co, Lincoln Park's Free and Cheap Theatre Company, St. Ben's/ North Center Running With Scissors/American Theatre Company, the Magnificent Mile's Circus Szalewski, Lake View's Presbyterian Church, the Merle Reskin Theatre at DePaul's Theatre School, the Saint Sebastian Players at Roscoe Village, Roger's Park Stage Rage, Lincoln Park's Holy covenant United Methodist Church, Gold Coast's Walter Payton College Prep, Old Town's Red Orchid Theatre (A gender-reversed casting!), East Pilsen's Tetra Ulna, a Polish-language version at the Chopping, and the Feminist Majority at Hide Park. Sai Corson [Sarai Capael] is a Chicago-based freelance writer and poet.