JD'

I was struck by the suspense in Lysistrata particularly in the scene between Myrrhine and Cinesias.The greatest suspense for me was when the baby was brought out there was an extrEme feling of kriptoynite. I wonder how much the idea that a mother can not ignore a crying child is something in greek culture ,in modern American culture, or simply my own upbringing.We live in an age of career women and birth control.Yet I’ve met grown women who express a clear defiance to wanting to have children yet they avoid areas with baby socks and bibs in the mall because they’re afraid of giving in.Lystriata turns many ideas on it’s head if only mockingly.I think in society it would be perceived as much easier for a women to refrain from sex than a man.But Lysitata makes clear the strong urges of women.On the other hand Myrrhine is able to not give in to what may be steotypically viewed as the ultimate weapon against women a child.Despite the fact that the single “scariest moment for me was the bringing out of the baby the suspense of that whole scne is intense. I felt as though Myrrhine was playing with fire.There is a clear sense of the absurdity discussed in the intro.The other day I was watching A Bill Cosby Show rerun it was his wifes birthday and he kept tempting her with cake.But she refused.He’d pretend to give in but come back out with another cake by the end he had brought in 4 cakes and finally his wife was sticking her face in one.This scene reminded me so much of that bit.That the fate of a nation and the end of the war would rely on the kind of flirtatious foolery in the Cosby show is not just hilarious it’s depressing.It makes one wonder if there is really such athing as a noble passion after all why should revenge o any other emotion or drive be more dignified than feeling horny?Those are some of the questions this play provoked.