Readers Theater Play

GRE

A supe EK MYTH
from a rnatural sto
ry
ncient
Greece

ior
arr
w
g
n
u
A yo

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Scholastic Scope SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

to de
est
u
q
G
IN
s DAR

feat

R LD
WO
T
N
E
I
C
N
NNA
R OF THE A
BY GARY HA

STE KAYDEN | illustrationS

ON
M
Y
L
D
A
E
R
AD
by SPENCE
CHARACTERS
Circle the character you will play.

Athena (uh-THEE-nuh): the

*Greek Chorus 1, 2, & 3

goddess of wisdom

(GC1, GC2, GC3)

Hermes (HER-meez): the

ALL Greek Chorus: GC1, GC2,

messenger of the gods

and GC3 in unison

Perseus

Gray SisterS 1, 2, & 3: sisters

who were born as old women
with gray hair
NymphS 1 & 2: spirits who live
in the sea
GorgonS 1 & 2: cruel monsters

AdvisErS 1 & 2

* Starred characters are major roles.

*Perseus (PER-see-us):

a young hero
King of Seriphos (SEH-rih-foss)
Danae (duh-NIGH): mother of

as you read, THINK ABOUT:

THEME

A storys theme is its main

message or moral. A major
theme of this play is that
goodness is rewarded and evil
is punished. Look for examples
of this theme as you read our
exciting story.

SCENE 1

has become very fond of Danae.

All Greek Chorus: Our story takes

But Danae is not fond of the king.

place long, long ago in the land of

King: Danae, I wish to marry you.

ancient Greece.

Danae: No thank you, my king.

GC1: An honorable woman named

King: I could have any woman I

Danae . . .

desire, and I choose you.

Perseus: . . . and her brave son,

Danae: I do not wish to be married.

Perseus . . .

King: Do you know what happens

GC2: . . . live a modest life on the

to those who refuse the king?

island of Seriphos.

GC1: He begins to draw his

GC3: But all is not well. The king

sword.

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GC2: Perseus rushes in.

whatever gift you desire!

Perseus (forcefully): My mother

King: Very well. I want you to bring

has the right to say no to you. Come,

me the head of the gorgon Medusa.

Mother, let us depart. It seems the

GC3: The crowd gasps.

king has become overzealous in

Perseus: Ill do it.

his affections for you.

GC3: Perseus and Danae leave.

SCENE 2

I will send
Perseus on an
impossible
mission. He
will never
return alive!

King (to himself): I must find a

GC1: Medusas location is a

way to get rid of that boy Perseus.

mystery. Perseus travels over land

He will always protect his mother.

and sea trying to find her.

If he were gone, I feel sure I could

GC2: Even with his immense

convince her to be my wife. Or

strength and courage, Perseus

else force her.

cannot imagine how he will kill

GC1: The king devises an evil plan.

Medusa without turning to stone.

King (to his advisers): Tell me,

GC3: One night, Athena, the

alone and go quietly.

what is the most feared creature

goddess of wisdom, appears before

GC2: Perseus climbs into the Gray

in the land?

him. With her is Hermes, the

Sisters lair. He sees that they are

AdvisEr 1: There are many

messenger of the gods.

old and grotesque.

fearsome monsters. One of the

Athena: Perseus, we are here to

GC3: They share one eye, which

most deadly is the gorgon Medusa.

help you with your task.

they pass back and forth.

AdvisEr 2: She is an evil woman

Perseus: O powerful Athena, I am

GC1: Perseus hides behind a rock,

with a hideous face. Instead of hair,

so grateful to you. I do not know

watching them.

she has horrible live serpents that

how I will cut off Medusas head if

Gray Sister 1: I heard something.

writhe on her head.

I cannot look at her.

Did either of you?

AdvisEr 1: Instead of hands, she

Athena: Take this shining metal

Gray Sister 2: Dont be

has sharp brass claws. Anyone who

shield. Use it as a mirror. Do not

ridiculous. Its only the wind.

looks at her turns to stone.

cast your eyes directly upon

Gray Sister 1: Give me the eye.

AdvisEr 2: She lives with her two

Medusa, but look at her reflection

I want to look around.

gorgon sisters. They are immortal,

in the shield. Then you will be safe.

Gray Sister 3: You just had it.

and so they cannot be killed.

Hermes: Take this magic sickle.

Gray Sister 1: I want it again!

Medusa, however, is mortal.

Its diamond blade can cut off her

Gray Sister 2: Selfish, selfish.

King: Perfect. I will send Perseus

head with one stroke.

Gray Sister 3: Fine, here it is.

on an impossible mission. He will

Perseus: Thank you. But where

GC2: As she removes the eye to

never return alive!

can I find Medusa?

hand it to her sister, Perseus leaps

GC2: The king announces that he

Athena: Only the Gray Sisters can

in and snatches it.

plans to marry a different woman.

tell you. They live on a cliff by the

Gray Sister 1: Well, where is it?

A party is held for him.

edge of the sea.

Gray Sister 3: I just gave it to you!

King: Perseus, all the men in my

kingdom brought me a gift, except

SCENE 3

King of Seriphos

Gray Sister 1: You lie! My hand

is empty.

you. Are you so poor and lazy that

GC1: Athena and Hermes show

Gray Sister 2: Did you drop it,

you have nothing to offer the king?

Perseus the way to the Gray Sisters.

you clumsy crone?

Perseus (furious): I may be poor,

Athena: They live on the other

Gray Sister 3: No, I didnt!

but I am not lazy. I will bring you

side of this mountain. You must go

Gray Sister 2: Then who has it?

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Perseus: I have it!

your eye to you.

Put them on and you will be able to

All Gray Sisters: Give it back!

GC3: The Gray Sisters grudgingly

soar through the air to the gorgons

Perseus: Answer one question.

tell Perseus where to find the

cave at the end of the world.

Where can I find the gorgon

nymphs. He returns their eye.

Nymph 1: Here is a cloth sack. Even

Medusa?
Gray Sister 1: We cant reveal that

after Medusas head is cut off, one

SCENE 4

glance can still turn you to stone.

to you. The gorgons are our sisters!

GC1: Perseus finds the beautiful

You must put her head in this sack

Gray Sister 2: Well never tell!

nymphs of the north.

immediately.

Gray Sister 3: Never ever!

NymphS 1 & 2: The winds told us

Nymph 2: The last thing you need

Perseus: If you dont tell me, I will

you were coming.

is the Cap of Darkness.

throw your eye into the sea.

Perseus: O lovely nymphs, I seek

GC2: She hands Perseus a golden

All Gray Sisters: Noooooooo!

the gorgon Medusa so that I may

helmet.

Gray Sister 1: Well tell, well tell!

cut off her head.

Nymph 1: When you put it on, it

Gray Sister 2: You must go to

Nymph 1: She is a diabolical

covers you in darkness, making

the nymphs of the north. Only

creature. We would be honored

you invisible.

they can help you.

to help you.

Nymph 2: Medusas wretched

Perseus: Tell me their location,

Nymph 2: You will need three

sisters will not be able to find you

and I will return

things. First, these winged sandals.

as you escape.
Nymphs 1 & 2: Now go. Be swift
and be brave.
Perseus: Thank you, o nymphs!
GC3: Through the sky Perseus sails
on his winged sandals, farther and
farther, until he reaches Medusas
cave at the end of the world.
GC1: Everywhere he looks, he sees
statues . . .
GC2: . . . statues that used to be
humans and animals, turned to
stone when they looked at Medusa.
GC3: Perseus creeps into the cave,
walking backward and using
Athenas shield as a mirror to see
behind him.
GC1: Medusa and her sisters are
sleeping.
GC2: As Perseus gets closer, the
snakes in Medusas hair begin
hissing and rearing their heads.
GC3: Medusa starts to awaken.
In the reflection, Perseus sees
her lift her head. Her eyes
fly open and she shrieks

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I have returned with a gift

for you, o King. Perseus

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with rage when she sees him.

GC1: Perseus must act quickly, or
he is doomed. He raises the magic
sickle and strikes behind himself,
giving one mighty swing.
GC2: Medusas wretched scream
ends abruptly as her head rolls
away from her body.
All Greek Chorus: The deed
is done.
GC3: Perseus grabs Medusas head
and shoves it into the sack without

SCOPE VIDEO

MEDUSA: MY SIDE
OF THE STORY

Sure, Medusa is a
murderous, snake-headed
monster, but she wasnt
always so terrible. Once she was
the most beautiful woman in Athens.
So what happened? Go online and watch
our video to learn the tragic truth about this unlucky lady.

looking at it.
GC1: Just then, Medusas sisters

GC2: The king has made Danae

King (not believing him): Of course

wake up and see her headless body.

a slave because she still refuses

we would.

Gorgon 1: Aaaaaah! Our sister!

to become his wife.

Perseus: Mother, shield your eyes!

Gorgon 2: Who has done this

GC3: Perseus marches into the

GC3: Perseus and Danae close their

ghastly thing?

palace. Danae is on her knees,

eyes as Perseus lifts Medusas

GC2: Perseus flees the cave. The

scrubbing the floors. The king is

head out of the sack.

gorgon sisters fly after him.

amazed to see Perseus alive.

GC1: The kings eyes widen in

Gorgon 1: You cannot get away

King: You? Here? How is that

shock.

from us!

possible?

GC2: He and his advisers are

Gorgon 2: We will avenge the

Perseus: I have returned with

immediately turned to stone . . .

death of our sister Medusa!

a gift for you, o King.

all greek chorus: . . . their faces

GC3: Perseus throws the Cap

GC1: Perseus holds out the sack

forever suspended in an expression

of Darkness onto his head and

in front of him.

of awe and horror.

becomes invisible. He flies off

King: Do you expect me to believe

GC3: Perseus puts the severed head

into the night.

that you actually have the head of

into the bag and runs to his mother.

the gorgon Medusa in that bag?

DANAE: My valiant son!

GC2: The king and his advisers

ALL GREEK CHORUS: Throughout

GC1: Perseus returns to Seriphos.

laugh.

Greece, word quickly spreads of

He is horrified to discover the king

Perseus: I do. Would you care

Perseuss daring feat. Hereafter,

lied about marrying someone else.

to see it?

he is regarded as a true hero.

top right: courtesy Twentieth Century Fox

SCENE 5

contest

Write About Theme A main theme of this play is that

goodness is rewarded and evil is punished. Choose one good and one
evil character. What makes them good or evil? How are they rewarded or
punished? Use your answers to write a paragraph about the theme of the
play. Send it to MEDUSA CONTEST. Five winners will each get
Quicksilver by Stephanie Spinner. See page 2 for details.
Get this
activity
Online

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