Medusa Undone by Bella Poynton

A theatrical retelling of the little known Medusa origin story. Before she was one of the greatest mythical monsters of all time, Medusa was a kind, beautiful sea-nymph in Athena's service. Unparalleled in both her beauty and devotion to the Gods, Medusa catches the eye of the charming but narcissistic Poseidon. Interested only in the passions
of the spirit, and not the flesh, Medusa feels she has...
A theatrical retelling of the little known Medusa origin story. Before she was one of the greatest mythical monsters of all time, Medusa was a kind, beautiful sea-nymph in Athena's service. Unparalleled in both her beauty and devotion to the Gods, Medusa catches the eye of the charming but narcissistic Poseidon. Interested only in the passions
of the spirit, and not the flesh, Medusa feels she has no choice but to reject the greedy God. For this, she not only suffers violence at the hand of Poseidon, but also incites a deep-seated jealousy in Athena, with horrific and disturbing consequences. Medusa Undone explores how rape culture reverberates through the ages, and calls attention to the great injustice suffered by female victims of abuse.
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

Medusa Undone

Recommended by

  • Ky Weeks:
    17 Aug. 2021
    “ There's a certain kind of spellcasting woven into the cadence of this play. It's hard to put a finger on, but is absolutely felt. Poynton brings forth figures from myth, as as people we may recognize, with human hopes, needs, and anger. But this is also a play in which magic exists, not in a figurative sense, but as a fundamental rule to the world that effects all who are in it. The form that magic takes is dark, chaotic, merciless, all the more so because it's grounded in the real. A powerful tale of Gods and monsters. ”
  • Justin Maxwell:
    8 Aug. 2020
    “ This is a powerful, breathtaking play. Had I seen it in production, instead of reading it on NPX, I would have wept through it. The script is intense and complex. The roles are just perfect for actors to climb inside of. The show's language carries the day in such a way that a large house with a budget for complex props and costumes could have a hit just as easily as a storefront venue putting up the show on a shoe string. ”
  • Otherworld Theatre Company, NFP:
    30 Apr. 2020
    “ We produced this profound and poetic piece in April 2019, garnishing us critical acclaim. The most meaningful impact the play produced were the victims of violence against women who came up to use after the production, sharing their stories in kind with us. They told us they felt healed by the writing and that the playwright stayed true to their experience. It is a play you should not pass up. ”
View all 6 recommendations

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Panndora Productions
    ,
    2014
  • Workshop
    ,
    The University of Iowa
    ,
    2013

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    3rd Act Theatre Company
    ,
    2021
  • Professional
    ,
    Otherworld Theatre Co.
    ,
    2019
  • Professional
    ,
    Post-Industrial Productions
    ,
    2019
  • Workshop
    ,
    Panndora Productions
    ,
    2015

Awards

Finalist
,
New Works of Merit Contest
,
2014