Fridays

1:30 – 3:00 pm

In-person at 

The Stockbridge Library

46 Main Street

Stockbridge, MA 01262

 3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8, 4/22 & 4/29 (no class 4/15)

Six Sessions

This course is offered in-person at the Stockbridge Library in Stockbridge, Mass.

After an introduction exploring the mythic and metaphysical world of ancient Greece, we will read selections from Seven Against Thebes, The Suppliant Maidens and the three plays that constitute the Oresteia (Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides).  In addition, there will be a discussion of the physical aspects of Greek theatre and theatrical conventions.  Assorted puns and random jokes will be included at no extra cost.

LIMITED REGISTRATION: 15

Recommended Reading:

Aeschylus I: The Persians, Seven Against Thebes, The Suppliant Maidens, Prometheus Bound, edited by David Grene and Richmond Lattimer.  [University of Chicago Press, 2013].

Aeschylus II: The Oresteia, edited by David Grene and Richmond Lattimer.  [University of Chicago Press, 2013].

After a career in medicine, Steven Somkin returned to his two real loves (besides Naomi), playwriting and the Ancient Greeks (his B.A. was in philosophy with a particular emphasis on Plato). An award-winning playwright, he has written 17 full length and a dozen shorter plays, many produced in New York City and the Berkshires, and two of which have been published. He was a co-founder and leader of The Greek Geeks (now defunct), a group of nerds devoted to reading the plays of ancient Greece.  Possibly relevant, but probably not, he also taught a course on dinosaurs for OLLI.

Previous | Next