(the) odyssey: A1 CYCLOPS

BEGINNING OF SHOW

a blank page; no plot, no character, no theme. no theme, save emptiness; nothing. despair? or possibility? both, perhaps. a canvas impatiently awaiting an author. o, muse, bless me with a golden tongue whose tale might shine upon these thirsty ears!

unleash from deep within this breast of mine a story spun from golden spool; worthy to be a hundred, nay a thousand times retold!

the time, many centuries ago, twenty years after the fall of troy. troy, the great trojan stronghold, after 10 years of war, finally fallen to the greeks. the place, a beach on the land of ithica.

the characters? one man washed up on shore, alone. from this single man may life spring and many other characters be born. awake, odysseus, and begin your tale.

very well. some thirty years ago, well before you arrived upon this earth, my men and i left the shores of our beloved home to conquer troy. our wives and families stayed behind as we travelled across the sea to fight our war.

odysseus shared the tale of how he and his men had held try siege for a decade, until at last odysseus devised the plan…

… for a tremendous horse to be built out of wood. it would be large enough to house a regiment of greek soldiers, …

… enough to conquer the city of troy from within. when the horse was presented at the gates of troy as a gift, the city’s inhabitants foolishly allowed the horse to be brought within their walls. them, in the dark of night…

… the regiment of greek soldiers, led by myself, spilled from the horse to the surprise of all the trojans and we ravished the city. victorious in our quest, we pillaged what we could and then set sail for home.

odysseus dearly missed his wife, penelope, and his son, telemechus, and was anxious to return

our journey was hindered, however, by a cruel intervention of the fates. our ship was blown off course…

… and odysseus found himself and his crew blown away by the winds of fate to a mysterious island, known to men only as the land of the cyclops.

for we shall dine upon a feast tonight!

odysseus and his men…

save those remaining on the ship…

… rowed themselves too the shore where their eyes met with a glorious sight.

sheep! and goats!

the likes of which they’d never seen. the men took great delight in catching and slaughtering as many of the sheep and goats as possible. that night, they reveled on the shores and after offering the best up to the god responsible for leading them to this blessed spot, they feasted as they hadn’t in many years.

… tomorrow, some men and i will return with a gift to appease whatever dwells upon this island.

odysseus and his men returned to the ship, but none slept soundly. when the dussy awoke them with the rose-red skies, odysseus and a small crew set out to find the creature.

i’d give more than wine to never hear such sounds as we did hear last night.

they had not travelled far when they came upon a cave. outside were sheep and goats, grazing upon the grass.

hello! is anyone in there?

nobody replied, so odysseus said…

let’s venture on inside. while we wait for the beast, perhaps we might learn a bit about it.

odysseus and his crew entered the cave to find a dwelling like they’d never seen. oversized chairs and tables…

it must be a giant lives here.

…and objects strangely beautiful and awe-inspiring. objects such as…

can be none other than a cyclops.

indeed, odysseus and his crew had found their way into the cave of a cyclops, those one eyed sons of poseidon, reowned for crafting objects for the gods, and yet unfortunately…

… i will catch the thieves and they will not live long!

the cyclops then rolled in front of the entracne to the cave a humongous boulder. the rock was so large, it would take ten man for each man in odysseus’ crew to ever move it back.w

who is this that dares enter my home?

odysseus knew better than to reveal too much to this son of a god, so instead, he told the cyclops his name was…

since i have fewer sheep for my supper, your men will have to do!

the cyclops reached down with his massive hand and grabbed one of odysseus’ crew. before their eyes, the giant beast ate this man, bones and all.

a drink to my father, god of the sea! alright, nobody, if this wine is as luscious as you say.

odysseus poured the wine into a gigantic cup.

your father!

polyphemus swallowed the wine in one great gulp. odysseys was careful not to drink much more than a sip.

fill my cup again. it is fit you know how to preperly toast my father before you become my supper!

odysseus obeyed, and again the cyclops downed the sweet ambrosia.

indeed, a concoction fit for a god! more!

and so it went, until the skin had been emptied and the cyclops was quite inebriated.

the only one capable was polyphemus himself.

odysseus thought well into the night, almost till break of day. then…

like a flash, the answer hit me!

as the great snores grew shallower and polyphemus began to stir, odysseus said to his frightened men…

quickly, lash yourselves to the belly of a sheep. be quick! the giant stirs!

the crewmen did as they were told, lashing themselves to the bellies of the sheep. odysseus grabbed a spear that had been fashioned for the gods.o

only if you can see to find me!

odysseus stabbed the spear as hard as he could into the single eye of the cyclops.

… i will stand in the door , and none of you men will escape!

polyphemus felt his way to the big stone and heaved it aside. there in the entrance to the cave he stood, feeling the sheep and goat’s backs as they left. odysseus’ men firmly lashed to their bellies. as the final ram was exiting the cave, odysseus flung himself onto the beast’s hide and held on for dear life. the hand of the cyclops barely missed him as the ram brushed past.

the cyclops heaved the stone shut[…] we boarded the ship as quickly as we could.

as the ship set out, polyphemus realized he was alone in the cave and ran towards the beach, howling all the way.

remember it was odysseus that blinded you! remember my name!

polyphemus reached the beach and in his blind fury, picked up a boulder the size of the ship as if it were a pebble…r

row, men, row!

the boulder flew at the ship…

…and met the water with a tremendous splash. the power of the boulder hitting the water sent our ship flying across the waves toward the sea…

…further and further from the beach.

the cyclops stood upon the beach while it dawned on him…

…that odysseus and his men had indeed escaped. he shouted towards the heavens…