Prometheus Staged

Title/Subject: Meditation 2
The Overture Chorus is the perfect opportunity to establish the eerie scene of Prometheus Bound. For this portion of the play I would dress the actors in the chorus in modern street clothes. Torches or candles they carry on with them would illuminate their faces, but not until the line “FIRE” is spoken. All other actors would be masked. During the chorus the lights of a blue dawn will slowly come up on a back screen to reveal the looming mountain on the stage. This mountain would be constructed using a tall ramp made to look like a jagged rock face. The ramp would be turned to its side with its highest point on stage right. All character entrances would come from stage left with the exception of the chorus.

Prometheus’ chains should be fairly long and loose enough so the actor playing him can stand and struggle against their weight. It is important that the audience can hear them when he is raging to get free or cursing Zeus’ name. Drums and the occasional flute flourish would accompany the chorus. The chorus would only congregate in front of or at the base of the rock. Some subtle light changes would be interesting during Prometheus’ speech, especially as he describes how he gave fire to humans (red lights). Adding a few exciting elements like Hermes descending on a wire would add an interesting effect. One could really notice and appreciate these few bits of show in such a minimalist setting.