James
Taris
THE GLORY OF
ATHENS
The humour and
inspiration of the
ancient Greeks
TESTIMONIALS
Hi
James, As promised I'm getting back to you with a more detailed
response to your performance of "The Glory of Athens"
at école secondaire Confédération on January
9, 2004 ...
I
must confess that I was a little hesitant to have you perform the
play at first. I wasn't concerned about the script. I liked the text,
having read it online. I thought it had lots
of humour and the message at the end of the play is truly inspirational,
challenging viewers to believe in themselves without reservation.
What made me nervous was my knowledge of what a difficult audience
high school students can be, especially when a single person tries
to hold their attention for 90 minutes. We teachers find it a challenge
to hold their attention for far shorter periods.
When
you began your performance, however, my fears were quickly laid to
rest. You captured our students' attention with
the first line and never lost it. They laughed at the funny parts
and listened attentively to the serious parts, and I could tell that
the applause at the end was heartfelt. What impressed me most,
however, was the way the students interacted with you in the question
period after the performance. The quality of their questions showed
how thoroughly engaged they were by your play.
The
audience included about 40 grade 12 students ranging in age from 16
to 18, most of them being 17 years old. To tell the truth,
if I had known how good your performance was going to be, I probably
would have tried to include our grade 11 students as well.
Although there is some sexual humour in the play, I don't think any
of it would be shocking to teenagers who watch prime time television
in North America. For that matter, that type of humour is not unfamiliar
to anyone who has studied Shakespeare.
I
should mention that I gave a brief history lesson to our grade 12
students the day before the play to furnish them with some background
knowledge about the historical and mythological characters in your
play. I also showed them a poster of the Parthenon so they would have
that image in mind when it was mentioned in the play. Though the students
probably would have understood your play without that lesson, I think
the preparation probably heightened their comprehension. For example,
because I explained the technique of Socratic dialectic to them, they
were really able to appreciate the humour of your parody of Socrates'
argumentative tactics.
Once
again, thank you very much, James, for performing your play for our
students. May all of your performances of "The Glory of Athens"
be as successful as the one at École secondaire Confédération.
Sincerely, Doug Janack (English Teacher, Confederation
High School, Canada)
***
Just
a quick note to say that our students' enthusiasm was confirmed during
further discussion on Monday. Donna and I have asked students to send
emails to you. Doug Janack (English Teacher, Confederation
High School, Canada)
***
Dear
James, Thanks for your performance of The Glory of Athens at our Cegep
de Granby (a French community college in the Eastern Townships of Quebec.).
My students really enjoyed it and I've asked them to send you directly
their testimonials. They were amazed that someone would actually do
something fun for them and for free. It boggled their minds. Oh, what
a cynics we are even young. The reaction was great, and even most of
them are native French speaking albeit advanced students, they still
caught most of the jokes. Thanks again, Jennifer Hanna,
Professor of English, Cegep de Granby Haut-Yamaska.
***
You
are a very good actor and I liked your play ..maybe if we can we will
see if we can put it on for a bigger audience when you return on the
26th.. A job well done. Betty-ann Power (Chairperson, LETS
Niagara, Canada)
***
James,
I read your play and was very impressed with it. Tell me is there a
little autobiographical slant in there? Fern
***
Honestly,
I haven't read all of the ACTS ... But the first three are but hilarious
... I finally finished reading all of the acts. ... But it was rude
and funny. ... Sort of Greek, sort of an American ... I must admit though
that it was beautifully written and no doubt it was beautifully performed.......
Congratulations. ... I like them all. However, the top three characters
for me were (not necessarily in order): Pericles( I've always enjoyed
this character), Odysseus and Socrates. But I also liked Demi's 'plea'
to God. Dorie
***
You
are a genius! Its quite humorous! ... - DAMN GOOD! (stupendous even!)
by the way, you have an incredible spirit dancing with you! Sandra |
1.
Stage Preparation
play setting
cast of characters
Demi
Pericles
Archimedes
Socrates
Demosthenes
Homer
Odysseus
character costumes
character props
character prop labels
stage props
lighting requirements
sound requirements
play duration 2.
Opening
Demi
accountant
Athens Inc
praying
Dear God
speech
miracles
company
sales figures
job
inspiring speech
sales forces
sales success
sales people
gift of the gab
get a sale
call a spade a spade
lie
little white lie
sleep at night
fishing for compliments
organization
glimmer of hope
people out of work
magic with words
big ask
stressing
resignation
pressure
staring death in the face
conscience
Amen
really busy
helpless
hopeless
desperate
whole wide world
expert
Athena
Goddess of Wisdom
Goddess Athena
Goddess of Infinate Wisdom
fourteen-year-olds
dial
last caller button
greatest minds
ancient Greece
ancient Greek genius
Pericles
Athens
most glorious ruler
centre of art
civilization
mid 5th century BC
greatest achievement
building the
Partnenon
3.
Character 1
Pericles
Athens
most glorious ruler
Demi
Aristoteli
ghia sou
boss
ex-boss
Teli
Parthenon
bad news
strike
slaves
Slave Trade Union
Karl Marx
twelve-hour working day
eight hours sleep
leisure time
Greek theatre
Greek theatres
theatres
toy
drinking
ouzo
pretend
the real thing
vision
impressed
TeliVision
Archimedes
job
build
builder
scientist
invent
Teli Vision
little box
real actors
Zeus
the father of all Gods
Archie
richly rewarded
pay
programs
best man for the job
Rupert Murdoch
God bless
children
fooling around
randy old Greek
prevent
fathering
villages
richest man in the world
programming rights
theatre programs
dramas
comedies
game shows
inspire
motivate
beautiful people
ideas
building
Acropolis Now Or Never
greatest voices
The Opera Show
Sox
Socrates
greatest philosopher
program
Sox In The City
lovely ladies
Friends
increase the price
tickets
trust me
I'm Greek
free
businessman
hungry
lunch
Niko's Souvlaki House
best souvlaki
advertising
merchants
pay handsomely |
KFC
Kosta's Fantastic Chicken
finger-licking good
Aphrodite's Massage
genius
get rich
Niko
buddy
creating a civilisation
good idea
souvlaki with the lot
eat a horse
horse meat
goat meat
tzatziki
Eleftherios
fearless warriors
battle
Persians
kicked their butts
terrible news
huge losses
destroy
confidence
the glory of Athens
huge crisis
Archimedes
greatest
mathematician and scientist
ancient times
solving mathematical problems
obsessed
work
forgot to eat
skinny
screamed Eureka
taking a bath
discovered
most famous
mathematical theory
Archimedes' Principle 4.
Character 2
Archimedes
greatest mathematician and scientist of ancient times
song
I am a genius
King Hieron
internationally acclaimed
genius
humble servant
Gods
pray to Zeus
forgive me father for I have sinned
buggered up again
problem
solve
pick a number from one to ten
mathematical trick
problem solving
new catapult
invented
ultimate in modern defensive warfare
ingeniously designed
killing machine
killed
enemy soldiers
pigeons
shooting
tossing
catapults
designed
throwing massive boulders
advancing enemy armies
launching clay pigeons
target shooters
bath
towels
problems to solve
inventions
invent
meal
brain
tip-top condition
mother
bed sheets
stains
fussy guy
love
mathematical and scientific genius
Pericles
theatre boxes
TeliVisions
died
Army
loved ones
die in vain
solving mathematical problems
blowing my own trumpet
serious political problem
Socrates
Archie
sock
famous philosopher
wisest
the Socratic Dialogue
loaded questions
contradict
answers
hand puppet
5.
Character 3
Socrates
Athens
famous philosopher
audience
Socs
hand puppet
argument
unfortunate victim
look like an idiot
truth
ridiculed
blood-thirsty onlookers
born
mother
birth
believe
teeth
question
razzle-dazzle
sock
jock
element of doubt
brush
yellow
breath
hazardous
health
newborn baby
pillow
Money
Tooth Fairy
child
great joy and comfort
time of great pain
existed
lied
untrue
embarrassment
not true
speak the truth
acknowledge
possibility
possible
objection
confused
adopted
trusted |
believes
joy
attitude
infinite wisdom
middle name
liar
upset
adoptive mother
impossible
establish some truths
ugliest man
ugly
fist
shoved up
bum
choke
Pericles
slaves
nuisance
army
depleted
offer reassurance
deliver your speech
wife
mocks me daily
embarrasses me
family and friends
perfected
Socratic Art of Ridicule
marriage
philosophically
By all means marry
good wife
happy
ulcer
temper
Dear Zeus
soldiers
broken into my home
arrest
goodbye freedom
goodbye friends
goodbye wife
Demi
Demosthenes
ancient Greek
public speaker
overcame
speech impediment
rehearsing
mouth full of stones
marble 6.
Character 4
Demosthenes
ancient Greek
public speaker
marble
the rain in Spain
To be or not to be
we will fight them on the land
I have a dream
Christian evangelist
brothers and sisters
seen the light
heavens
electricity
Greek Gods of Olympus
Godfather impersonation
Come here my son
honey
money
funny
bunny
sunny
dunny
suave voice
spits
children
little angels
fortunate
beautiful woman
wife
wonderful mother
Gods
blessed
struck down dead
smile on my face
heaven forbid
wife widowed
children orphaned
so happy today
death
wipe the smile off
I love you too my dear
for an eternity
justice
language of romance
challenging
darling wife
public speaker extaordinaire
all round nice guy
noble leader
honour
pleasure
all ears
A thens
the glory of Athens
skills
cup full of fresh spit
tested
audiences
guys
think it's funny
speech
mixed audience
big miss
Shakespeare
Winston Churchill
bulging cheeks
spit
yuk
ghia sou
Dear Zeus
kill me
begins choking
coughs and chokes
frustration
Demi
lost his voice
dark glasses
Homer
poor and blind
epic poems
The Iliad
The Odyssey
influence
Western Literature
written works
7.
Character 5
Homer
most influential writer
Western Literature
Zeus
life
poor
blind
complain
strengths
weaknesses
brain
wonderment
riches
fat ass
lifetime
task
achieve
know yourself
believe
listen
eternity
awe and envy
enlighten all the Greeks
Greek history
Greek Gods |
Greek
pride
The Iliad
The Odyssey
cheated
Greek glory
cunning and intelligent
Greek story
Greek tales
verse
remembered
worse
dream
complaints
choose
God almighty
chore
memory
syllable
escape
enormous task
complete
piece of string
endless street
revising
improving
word
die
final version
the best
world
when I woke
dreadful day
unhappy
embarrassed
confidence grew stronger
belief and self-esteem
stifled
child
recite my epic poems
heart
pride and joy
homes
blunt
obvious
moral to my story
believe in yourself
unconditionally
eternal glory
Blind Man's Lament
pets
boys and girls
ages
free
locked up in cages
theory
goldfish
cats
dogs
birds
wish
diapers
free-ranging pets
Pet Loo
today
dog poo
Pericles
poem
fold-up map
Odysseus
ruler of the island Ithaca
devious and cunning
wooden horse design
Trojans
defences
Trojan War
surviving
adventures
dangerous creatures
strange lands
last hope
pull a rabbit out of the hat 8.
Character 6
Odysseus
ancient Greek hero
Homer
Ithaca
decent bath
smelling
Archimedes
map
re-writing
story
bloody hell
writing
another bloody epic
Lotus eaters adventure
crew
Cyclops
killed
stab
eye
writing the story
drastic
dear Zeus
amongst the action
stories
James Bond
rough stuff
romance
sex
buddy
little brother
sunshine
Troy
Mrs Palmer
happy
several winds
joke
store energy
farting in a jar
pissed off
bad smell
women
Circe
falls in love
hot
chick
unbelievably hot
bad breath
witch
turns my crew into pigs
how to go to Hell
smoking
bong
communicating
amazing
out of the frying pan and into the fire
pardon the pun
speak
dead Greeks
conversation
dead
how silly of me
bloody and smelly
delivered spick and span
chicks
dear wife
guys
trying to get into her pants
beautiful Sirens
excited
females
orgy
hedonistic pleasures
island
write
beds
blankets
grasses
sands
mermaids
decent woman with a pair of legs
not happy
the devil and the deep blue sea
Zeus almighty |
ship
sail
Scylla the six-headed monster
whirlpool Charybdis
monsters
natural disasters
child
did your father beat you?
Freud
die
promised immortality
long and lonely years
Calypso
sexy nymph
Nymphomaniac
buddy
Hallelujah brother
finally seen the light
exist
figment of your imagination
negative impression
rubbish
passing
goal in life
positive impression
glorify
pearly gates
do the best
lifetime
eternal glory
noble way to live
worthy
lifetime commitment
silent
answer
questions
whole verse
yes
Pericles is stuffed now
small ribbon
surprised
won
chokes on the words
prophesy
child of God
human population
same potential
greatest minds in history
lacking in self-belief
conquered
achieve greatness of unimaginable proportions
trance
soul possessed
My God
the glory of Athens
still at stake
transformation
scarf 9.
Closing - Part 1
Pericles
save
the glory of Athens
Demi
ghia sou
Athena
total faith
message
speak from the heart
accountants
Athens
speech
over the phone
deliver it
citizens of Athens
passion
desire
buddy
audience
responsibility
sharing
unmistakable truth
tragic period
history
loss of many lives
near and dear
friends and family members
tragedy
ignored
insult
memory
paid the ultimate price
freedom
Athenians
remember
blessed
most democratic society
free citizens
pursue
our desires
risk of prosecution
dictatorial ruler
most progressive society
art and culture
opportunity
in order to flourish
build from strength to strength
temporary setbacks
wars
won
lost
future
either fate
fight for our freedom
fight for our very survival
committed
giving our lives
lives of our children
noblest cause
10.
Closing - Part 2
Demi
solve
problem
company
miracle
oblivion
believe
possible
possibility
certainty
accountant
muck around
facts and figures
unmistakable truth
everything is possible if you believe
truly
sales figures
sales for this month
mathematical brain
aim to deliver our best
fly off the charts
through the roof
unfulfilled potential
top of that list
lepless
hopeless
desperate
worth
determined
overcome any obstacle
become the best I can be
for the company I love
powerful figure
great
untested
mind
it's time to put up or to shut up
urge
join me on this mission |
TESTIMONIALS
This
book (Glory of Athens) is a sure therapy for me. I've been reading
it in section to either start my morning or before hitting the
bed. The humour in it is just as inviting. I am about to replace
John Grisham ( The Firm, A Time to Kill, The Pelican Brief,
The Chamber, etc) and Dan Brown(DaVinci Code, Angels and Demons,
etc) to James Taris as my preferred author/writer in this modern
times. Dorie (Guam)
***
My
name is Samantha, and I am a student at Confederation
High School. I was in the groupe of grade twelves
to whom you presented your play "The Glory of Athens"
on Friday, January 9, 2004, and I really enjoyed it, so I felt
I should let you know. I just wanted to send out a quick note
to say that I was really blown away by your presentation: the
acting, the humour, the play as a whole. It was really a wonderful
story, a beaufitul message, and a fantastic laugh. It's just
what we all needed on a Friday afternoon. I think I speak for
everyone when I say that I was very impressed by the play. It
was a great story line, and very well portrayed. We all had
a lot of fun, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank
you for having come. Best
wishes in wherever and whatever life brings you! Cheers! Sam!
(CHS)
***
James
gave his first perfomance of his play in Bressuire last year
[2003] to a French audience. The audience, composed of both
students and adults, enjoyed his sincere depiction of Greek
Philosophy in contemporary life situations. We recommend his
play especially for students in the humanities. Roger
Desbois (secretary), Jean Kelly (president), SEL de Bocage
- Bressuire
***
I
would be pleased to endorse your play and any needs to promote
you and this amusing drama. I and many of my friends have
enjoyed your play, meeting and spending time with you. It
certainly has been an adventure I and my family will remember.
You know the girl, the 'I am a genius' one. Chonie (3) is
still doing her 'genius dance' for others. God go with you
on your path ... Wishing you all the best in your endeavours.
Yours in freindship and LETS, Mary Beth Anger
Sheffield. Community Legal Worker and Community Developer.***
REVIEW
This EXCELLENT play is well-written with ingenious theatrical
techniques and provides a powerful spiritual message.
When
James TARIS visited LETS Niagara, we intended to use his motivational
skills mainly to promote the concept of Local Economic/Employment/Energy
Trading Systems among existing and prospective members.
However,
we were also able to help him by arranging 3 public performances
of The Glory Of Athens, in a local High School, Church and,
for members and friends of LETS Niagara, in a private home.
We
are honoured to have played a small part in promoting this
play - he was definitely Called to write and act it and it
deserves to be performed widely.
The
play's history is similar to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, written
as a Winnipeg comedienne's stand-up comedy show. In the same
way, I predict that we will one day see The Glory Of Athens
on the silver screen - it's that good.
The
play's message, for me, was that in times of trouble, prayer
works.
A
major side benefit to The Glory Of Athens, is that it's style
and technique help to explain ancient Greek history as something
worth studying, in fact, as interesting as modern soap operas.
The more we study history, the less we will be doomed to repeat
its lessons (and the ancient Greeks sure learned a lot of
them!). Ten Star Life Broker; Rotary Club of
Fort Erie (Secretary 2002-, President 2001-02, 1996-97); LETS
Niagara (Secretary-Treasurer 1997-); Scouts Canada leader
1986-2002 ... Lorne WHITE, PORT COLBORNE, Ontario, CANADA
|
SYNOPSIS
The
Glory Of Athens is a comedy on overcoming adversity that has
six Ancient Greek geniuses come back to life and display the
characteristics which made them so successful. The six characters
include Pericles, Archimedes, Socrates, Demosthenes, Homer
and Odysseus. The play has some hilarious monologues from
these six characters and Demi, a modern day accountant, who
is burdened with a seemingly impossible task. The year is
2004. And Athens Inc. has chosen Demi to revitalise their
ailing sales force by giving them an inspiring speech leading
them into a new era of sales success. But sales is something
Demi has absolutely no knowledge of and is overwhelmed by
his new responsibility.
In
a desperate bid for help, Demi prays to God, who sends the
Ancient Greek goddess Athena to his aid. She gives Demi a
bag of magical items which enable him to change into each
character and go back into time, around 440 BC, when the Parthenon
was being built, and see them in action, though not exactly
how he'd imagined them to be. Pericles teaches him how to
tackle problems by soliciting the help of the best minds available.
So when the slaves threaten to strike unless they can get
more time off to watch Greek theatre, he contacts Archimedes
(by mobile phone) to invent the TeleVision for him and then
he contacts Rupert Murdochakis to provide the programs for
him. Unfortunately, Pericles' army suffers huge losses in
a recent battle, so he's now confronted with a much bigger
crisis than Demi's . saving the glory of Athens. So the focus
then turns to finding someone to help Pericles solve his seemingly
impossible task . restoring faith to his people by addressing
them with a reassuring public speech.
Archimedes
is self-centred and obsessed with his own genius, getting
excited about even his smallest achievements. And so determined
to succeed that he avoids bathing, and eating, so he'll have
more time for solving his mathematical and scientific problems.
But he can't help Pericles. Socrates has just been practising
his arguing skills with a sock used as a hand-puppet, toning
up his repertoire of clever arguments to confuse his opponents.
He uses much philosophy and wisdom in his monologue but is
arrested by soldiers before he can give Pericles the advice
he needs. Demosthenes is a smooth talker who has overcome
a speech impediment by practising with a mouth full of marbles.
But even though he promises to help, he suddenly loses his
voice when choking on one of his marbles. In desperation,
Demi looks in his magic bag for a replacement, and finds Homer.
Homer is very inspiring and he shares, in verse, how, even
though blind, he was able to use persistence and perseverance
to realise his dreams. But he fails to make contact with Pericles.
Odysseus is Pericles' last hope. And when Odysseus finds that
Homer is rewriting his story, changing it from a one year
absence to 10 years, he spends most of his time trying to
add encounters with women to these new changes, finally, in
a flash of enlightenment, coming to conclude that we can have
eternal glory by becoming the best we can be.
But
although each character is placed in ridiculously funny situations,
they are all presented as strong role models for Demi, who
gleans a little from each one on his journey to tackling the
problem his company has burdened him with. And the play builds
to a very powerful conclusion, as we find out if Pericles
can save The Glory Of Athens, and if Demi can solve his own
problem too.
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