←Recommendations of Seneca and the Soul of Nero (Full-length play)

The Stoic and the Mad Emperor. What a stellar play. A rich character study that inspires reflection. I had read this play some time ago and decided to let it cool off in my head before writing a recommendation. But truth be told, it just entered into my consciousness as the events in then life of one of my favorite philosophers. Marcia Eppich-Harris weaves a tale that reminds me of Seneca’s own words, “Life's like a play: it's not the length, but the excellence of the acting that matters.” The act of writing this play was an excellent act

I was able to stream Southbank Theatre Company's production of this play recently, and what a history lesson! Recent politics are hauntingly reminiscent of the Ancient Rome depicted here, and the cast of characters encompass a spectrum of youthful, full of promise and hopeful individuals to devastated, deteriorating, and downright grotesque. I found myself particularly fascinated by the female characters on the margins of this history, and their scenes from the work have stayed with me longest.

“Seneca and the Soul of Nero” brings historical persons to a vivid and human level. Ambition, lust, fear, and greed are set against the desire for honor and truth. The struggles are painfully real. The ending is as surprising as it is beautiful.

This is a brilliant contemporary political satire cleverly disguised as a Shakespearesque history play. Nero is portrayed as a raging egomaniac surrounded by sycophants seeking either to curtail or to profit from his excesses. Sound vaguely familiar? There are no exact parallels to recent events but there are many echoes, some faint, others blaring: "I am untouchable. I could cut throats in the street and no one would arraign me." Well done!

This is a powerful historical play that is in the forefront of our minds where what is good, truthful, and logical are sacrificed for a vile narcissist. No wonder why there is a body count. Although the speech is elevated, the story is compelling and the characters intriguing. This is the kind of play that will have you thinking about it for days. Eppich-Harris takes a story from long ago and a language from far away (can't get away from the Shakespearean influence with this one) and makes it adaptable to the modern world.

History plays are a weakness of mine, and I'm so happy to have discovered this one! Both Nero and Senica are beautifully authentic and the relationship between them is one actors would love to dive into. The play is full of fantastic roles for both actors and actresses and is perfect for college, professional or festival productions. Thank you Marcia Eppich-Harris for reminding me why I love Roman history so much!

A narcissistic despot who refuses to take counsel from his advisors? Pshht, must be fiction! Nero is the antagonist we love to hate, and Seneca the teacher trying desperately to prevent his moral decay. This show is full of great moments for actors; the relationship between Seneca and Nero—at once turbulent and loving—is especially powerful. A fast-paced, well-researched history play with gut-punch resonance for the 21st century.

Seneca and the Soul of Nero brings to life this period of Roman History. The play is filled with wonderful duels between several characters as they all fight over, as it says, the Soul of Nero. The character of Seneca is wise and resigned and lovely; Nero is terrifyingly human and inhuman at the same time. The script is filled with surprises as it moves towards its very affecting ending.

I was honored to have had the opportunity to read Seneca And The Soul Of Nero and participate in a group discussion with the author and other playwrights. As I read the play, the first scene captured me and catapulted me deep into the piece. Until now, I hadn't given historical pieces much thought, but this play has shown me the sort of great inspiration I've been missing. As such, I have changed my stance about the genre. The play is well-written and captivating. I can't wait to see it on stage.

I was blessed to be part of the workshopping process and have seen this play grow and become what it is now. Marcia is not only a brilliant story-teller and a true knower of Nero and his countless flaws, but how she presents this age-old tale rings true in so many elements of today's world. This well-crafted tragedy evaluates what it means to be a teacher and examines what responsibilities they have to their students and showcases the struggle of wrestling between our ideals and the willingness to not give up on a student. A fantastic piece!