The Congresswomen by Kelly Strandemo

Time's Up in Ancient Greece! When the women of Athens take charge, the once powerful men must nervously negotiate their new place in society. Politics, pop songs, and penis jokes abound in this hilarious new adaptation of the timeless satire. When the coup is complete, who will be left to pick up the pieces from the Battle of the Sexes?

Based on Aristophanes' Ekklesiazousai
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The Congresswomen

Recommended by

  • Eliana M. Tate:
    10 May. 2023
    “ The Congresswomen is chocked full of well-timed humor, references both subtle and poignant, and is a true joy of feminine rage and pride. Strandemo crafts a narrative that is timely, relevant, and speaks expertly to a wide variety of contemporary anxieties and conversations with both tact and humor. This playful, complex, and vibrant adaptation comes to a thoughtful and satisfying conclusion, and really “seizes the patriarchy by the manhood.” A delightful revival that takes the issues of ancient Greece and places them neatly into the here and now. ”

Character Information

DOUBLING
The cast of THE CONGRESSWOMEN can be as small as eleven actors. In this scenario, the actors playing ATALANTE, DESPOINA, and GLYKERIA will double as HARVELLAH, MYRTLE, and EUTERPE (any configuration thereof) and the actor playing ZOSIMOS will double as DONYALDIA.

The play uses a version of a Greek Chorus, so the cast can also accommodate larger numbers than 15 if desired.

Character ages are a benchmark, but are flexible.

  • PRAXAGORA
    30s-50s,
    White
    ,
    Female
    Athenian citizen. Educated, upper-class, natural leader, married to Blepyrus. The Julia Sugarbaker of Ancient Greece.
    pronounced prax-ZAG-er-ah
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • ATALANTE
    30s- 50s,
    White
    ,
    Female, Female / Female Identifying
    Athenian Citizen. An upper-class wife, but does NOT love the fact that she's married. A cause-driven tom-boy.
    pronounced: at-uh-LAN-tee
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • DESPOINA
    20s - 50s ,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Athenian citizen. Sex-crazed (or so she wants us to think), upper-class woman, and like Blanche Devereaux always up for a good time. Values independence.
    pronounced: dess-poh-EE-na
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • GLYKERIA
    20s - 40s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Athenian citizen. A sweet, upper-class wife and mother. Loves being domestic. A people-pleaser. Simple, but not stupid. Perhaps pregnant.
    pronounced: gli-KIER-ee-ah
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • BLEPYRUS
    30s - 50s,
    White
    ,
    Male
    Athenian citizen and upper-class member of Congress. Privileged. Blindly used to getting what he wants. Husband of Praxagora, constipated in many ways.
    pronounced: BLEP-er-us
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • ZOSIMOS
    20s - 60s,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Athenian citizen and congressman. Married, and neighbor of Blepyrus and Praxagora. Privileged, but not an Alpha.
    pronounced: ZOH-zee-mos
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • CREMES
    20s - 30s,
    White
    ,
    Male
    Athenian citizen & congressman. Unmarried, very upper-class. The world is his oyster. pronounced: CREAM-ease
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • DONYALDIA
    plays 80s ,
    Any
    ,
    Male, Female / Female Identifying, Female Identifying or Non-Binary
    Athenian citizen. A sex starved, older widow. Has money. Excited to finally get what 'she' wants.
    pronounced: don-NALD-ee-ah
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • HARVELLAH
    plays 80s ,
    Any
    ,
    Female / Female Identifying
    Athenian citizen. Neighbor and rival of Donyaldia. Old, also horny.
    pronounced: HAR-vah-lah
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • MYRTLE
    plays 80s,
    Any
    ,
    Female / Female Identifying
    Athenian citizen. Older, sweet, maternal Athenian, desperate for affection. But also really horny
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • EUTERPE
    20s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    A spoiled, Athenian Citizen. A "Mean Girl." Chremes' currently girlfriend. Today, her life goal would be to be on "real housewives..."
    pronounced: you-TURH-pee
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • BARBITOS
    20s-60s,
    White
    ,
    Any (but probably Male)
    Chorus member. A native Athenian who's lost all money/possessions, and is in debtors prison. Would like Donald Trump if DT was alive in 390 BC. Preferably male, but can be played as female.
    pronounced: BAR-bit-ohs
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female, Male
  • CODA
    30s - 70s,
    BIPOC
    ,
    Female / Female Identifying
    Chorus member. Just trying to get through the day. Hard-worker. Sings.
    pronounced: CODE-ah
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any actor of color
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • VIVACE
    18-40s,
    BIPOC
    ,
    Male
    Chorus member. And idealist. Hopes to rise beyond circumstances. Sings.
    pronounced: vee-VAAH-chay
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any actor of color
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • FERMATA
    18- early 30s,
    Any
    ,
    Female / Female Identifying
    Chorus member. A person of quiet passion. Holds to hope. Youthful. Sings.
    pronounced: fer-MAH-ta
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female

Development History

  • Commission
    ,
    Ducdame Ensemble
    ,
    2018

Production History

  • Workshop
    ,
    Weathervane Theatre, New Hampshire
    ,
    2020
  • Fringe
    ,
    New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC)
    ,
    2018