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

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: The Congresswomen by Kelly Strandemo
    “

    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.

    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.
  • DESPOINA
    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
    20s - 50s
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • VIVACE
    Chorus member. And idealist. Hopes to rise beyond circumstances. Sings.
    pronounced: vee-VAAH-chay
    18-40s
    BIPOC
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • GLYKERIA
    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
    20s - 40s
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • FERMATA
    Chorus member. A person of quiet passion. Holds to hope. Youthful. Sings.
    pronounced: fer-MAH-ta
    18- early 30s
    Any
    Female / Female Identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • BLEPYRUS
    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
    30s - 50s
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • ZOSIMOS
    Athenian citizen and congressman. Married, and neighbor of Blepyrus and Praxagora. Privileged, but not an Alpha.
    pronounced: ZOH-zee-mos
    20s - 60s
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • CREMES
    Athenian citizen & congressman. Unmarried, very upper-class. The world is his oyster. pronounced: CREAM-ease
    20s - 30s
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • DONYALDIA
    Athenian citizen. A sex starved, older widow. Has money. Excited to finally get what 'she' wants.
    pronounced: don-NALD-ee-ah
    plays 80s
    Any
    Male,
    Female / Female Identifying,
    Female Identifying or Non-Binary
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
  • HARVELLAH
    Athenian citizen. Neighbor and rival of Donyaldia. Old, also horny.
    pronounced: HAR-vah-lah
    plays 80s
    Any
    Female / Female Identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • MYRTLE
    Athenian citizen. Older, sweet, maternal Athenian, desperate for affection. But also really horny
    plays 80s
    Any
    Female / Female Identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • EUTERPE
    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
    20s
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • PRAXAGORA
    Athenian citizen. Educated, upper-class, natural leader, married to Blepyrus. The Julia Sugarbaker of Ancient Greece.
    pronounced prax-ZAG-er-ah
    30s-50s
    White
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • BARBITOS
    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
    20s-60s
    White
    Any (but probably Male)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Male
  • ATALANTE
    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
    30s- 50s
    White
    Female,
    Female / Female Identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • CODA
    Chorus member. Just trying to get through the day. Hard-worker. Sings.
    pronounced: CODE-ah
    30s - 70s
    BIPOC
    Female / Female Identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary

Development History

  • Commission, Ducdame Ensemble, 2018

Production History

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