ODYSSEY! ODYSSEY! By Ginny Avery For Encore

Transcription

1 ODYSSEY! By Ginny Avery For Encore Sinodun Players Youth Theatre, Wallingford Scene Summary Version 9, 12C18 1 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

2 ACT ACT 1, SCENE 1: OPENING FEAST...3 ACT1, SCENE 2: GODS APPEAR, PART ACT 1, SCENE 3: FEAST PART ACT 1, SCENE 4: THE LOTUS EATERS...7 ACT 1, SCENE 5: GODS PART ACT 1, SCENE 6: PENELOPE & MELANTHO ACT 1, SCENE 7: FEAST PART ACT 1, SCENE 8: CIRCE and the PIGS ACT 1, SCENE8A: CIRCE & ODYSSEUS ACT 1, SCENE 9: THE SIRENS ACT 1, SCENE 10: FEAST, PART ACT 1, SCENE 11: SCYLLA & CHARYBDIS ACT ACT 2, SCENE 1 - PHAEACIAN GAMES ACT 2, SCENE 2: DEMODICUS SINGS ACT 2, SC 3: PHAECIANS PART ACT 2, SCENE 3: GODS PART ACT 2, SCENE 4: POLYPHEMUS ACT 2, SCENE 5: GODS PART ACT 2, SCENE 6: CALYPSO RELEASES ODYSSEUS Version 9, 12C18 2 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

3 ACT 2 SCENE 7: PENELOPE S SECRET (FEAST PART 5) ACT 2, SCENE 7: FIGHT! ACT 2, SCENE 9: GODS PART ACT 2, SCENE 10: ODYSSEUS DEPARTS (FEAST PART 6) Light Set Projection Sound ODYSSEY PROPS LIST ODYSSEY COSTUME LIST ODYSSEY SET CONSTRUCTION ACT 1, SCENE 1: OPENING FEAST ACT 1 The play opens at the end of Homer s The Odyssey, at the feast to celebrate Odysseus victory over the invading Suitors and his return home to Ithaka. PROJECTION - (BOW) MUSIC Celebration music, and/or pos live musicians arrive on stage first As final audience members enter, so do the actors, gradually, from every possible entrance (stage, side and top back). They enter as various Greek characters, all ages, status, gender. They improvise talk to each other and to the audience, welcoming, sharing brief exchanges, stories, tell jokes, arrange future get togethers, introduce relatives (introduce beautiful daughter/son in need of spouse), organising their servants to do jobs, etc. Some actors enter as servants and hand out small dishes of olives, hummus and pitta to the audience. Actors also bring with them the various props as gifts to offer to Odysseus, Telemachus shows them where to place them (far DSL and DSR). The props include: different sized Grecian urns, 12 staves, 12 animal skins etc. As PENELOPE enters (one of the last actors on stage) Version 9, 12C18 3 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

4 LIGHT HOUSE LIGHTS SLOW DIM, UP FULL ON STAGE FEAST SETTINGS (ALCINOUS, NAUSSICA, HERALD and entourage enter from Auditorium side door) HERALD: Make way for his most Royal Majesty, King Alcinous of Phoenicia and his beloved daughter the Princess Naussica! ALC: (going onto the stage and taking ODY hand in warrior grip) My good friend Odysseus, it is good to see you again! It has been many months since you departed our shores. Great and kind Alcinous, I thank the Goddess Athena every day for delivering me to your isle, when I was most in need. How may I ever repay you for rescuing me and treating me with such kindness? You trusted me and showed me such hospitality. TEL: I too am most humbly grateful. To provide my Father with a ship, supplies and a loyal and noble crew. All to speed his safe return home. (proudly introducing TEL to ALC) My Son, Telemachus, whom my Penelope has raised to be a strong and handsome man! TEL: I was but a babe in arms when you left for Troy, Father. But I am almost as strong as you. ALC: Our sailors came home humming with stories after delivering you back to Ithaka, Odysseus. They were only sorry they were unable to stay and thus report what reception you received! Truly I was shocked at the devastation that had been wrought by nobles of Greece. I can hardly believe so many rulers of our great nation would stoop to such degradation and treat the tradition of Xenia with such disdain. ALC: But I see you have established order once more. (NAUSICAA comes to him) You will of course remember my lovely daughter Princess Nausicaa? beggar still. How can I ever forget? If it wasn t for you finding and trusting me that day, I would be a NAUS: (taking Odysseus hand) A rather bedraggled and naked beggar, if I remember correctly! You scared away most of my ladies! PEN: (Approaching the group) Won t you introduce me, husband? (As Odysseus is stuck between PEN and NAUS, there is a moment of frison between the two women. as NAUS and ODY turn to PEN.) LIGHT GODS COLD LIGHT (ALL mortal actors freeze) Version 9, 12C18 4 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

5 ACT1, SCENE 2: GODS APPEAR, PART 1 ATH: (appearing from amongst the child actors onstage) Aphrodite can you not leave these poor mortals alone for just this one day? APH: (slowing descending from Fly Gallery) You ruin all my fun, Athena. See how Nausicaa is attracted to Odysseus. And who wouldn't be? I believe the feeling is mutual. ZEUS: (appearing from back of auditorium) I agree with Athena, for once. Leave your meddling, Aphrodite (he wafts an arm, APH magically moves away slightly, as if repelled). This should be a day of celebration. Penelope publicly welcomes her husband home and Ithaka shows Xenia to all those who supported her during his absence. POS: (throwing off a hood and appearing from amongst the audience) I'm surprised there are any Lords left in Greece that didn't vie for Penelope s hand, while Odysseus took his pleasure abroad. ATH: It was your meddling that caused so many years of delay, Poseidon! Those that dared to overthrow Odysseus died by his hand and justly so. APH: More fodder for Hades then. ZEUS: Hermes, where is Hades? Did you not take my message to the Underworld, charging him to join us today? HERM: (appearing from the lowest side point of the auditorium) Your Brother sends word, oh mighty ZEUS, that since the battle he has been rather, 'busy' of late. APH: (returns to her earlier mischief and takes NAUTICAA's hand, turns her around to face TELEMACHUS) Maybe Telemachus should be made aware of Princess Nauticaa's charms? ATH: For once I approve, Aphrodite. This would make a good match. ZEUS: let us leave these mortals to make their own way in the world. POS: until your own interests are piqued and you fancy a little meddling of your own... ZEUS: Enough! (he raises his hand) LIGHT LIGHTENING PROJECTION LIGHTENING FLASHES SOUND THUNDER ATH: Great Zeus, let us stand aside and observe as these mortals enjoy their victory. APH: And celebrate with suitable gifts and sacrifices to us all. Version 9, 12C18 5 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

6 (Zeus nods) HERM: (bowing placatingly) As you wish my Lord ZEUS ACT 1, SCENE 3: FEAST PART 2 LIGHT RETURN FEAST (mortals unfreeze. TEL, NAUT & ODY react confused to change of situation. The GODS mingle and melt to become part of the scene, either in disguise or unseen by the mortals) My Queen Penelope. Allow me to introduce King Alcinous of Phoenicia and his daughter, the Princess Nausicaa. PEN: Ah yes. Please allow me to thank you humbly for returning my long lost husband to me. NAUS: Queen Penelope, it was our greatest honour to restore Odysseus to his home and family. PEN: ALC: TEL: Telemachus, take Princess Nausicaa and offer her food and drink. I am sure your people are keen to hear some of your adventures, Odysseus, during your long and eventful return from the wars in Troy. Indeed Father. You have only briefly mentioned some of them and I would dearly like to hear more. (The mortals react with encouragement) Yes indeed. I will gladly relay some of my many adventures. But there were so many! Which one first? (actors shout various answers, but the loudest and majority call for the Lotus Eaters) The Lotus Eaters it shall be! (cheers and excitement as everyone settles down in a semi circle around the stage to hear the tale) ACT 1, SCENE 4: THE LOTUS EATERS only something enchanted by the very Gods could possibly make me and my sailors forget our loved ones, home and time itself. SOUND MUSIC (low enough to hear narrative) LIGHT LOW (enough to see tealights, enough to be safe!) PROJECTION LOTUS FLOWER (ideally fading different colours) As we sailed home, our stores were depleted and water was running low. So we felt fortunate to find a small and well protected island that we could reach before sunset. Version 9, 12C18 6 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

7 (he passes his helm to another actor who takes up the story as ODY. As he and others narrate, actors join the scene. Looking around and re-enacting as described) The sea had been stormy all day SAIL1: but as dusk fell, we found a secluded and natural harbour in a most beautiful cove. SAIL2: It was protected by ancient trees SAIL3: and the land was carpeted with a blanket of the most beautiful flowers and plants you could ever imagine. SAIL4: We replenished our water from a gentle stream Where the waters were crystal clear! SAIL5: And from the streambed, we gathered fresh rushes to sleep on SAIL6: and found dry fire wood from beneath the ancient trees. SAIL2: But all I could think of was food. SAIL1: I tried to shoot down a young buck (this is mimed by the actors, the deer escapes reactions) SAIL1: But it was too fast SAIL2: and escaped in the dim light. As we settled for the evening, SAIL 2: dreaming of meat and wine SAIL 3: we became aware of the most wonderful fragrance. (LOTUS EATERS appear from amongst the circle of actors and create a large Lotus flower tableaux on one side of the stage) SAIL4: The scent was impossible to describe SAIL 5: and yet so incredibly alluring TEL: (from the watching group) Better than roasted venison?! (he is hushed by Nausicaa who sits beside him) SAIL3: The scent seemed to ease our tired muscles SAIL1: our fatigue melted away SAIL2: and something about this enticing smell compelled us to seek out the source There is always danger in the dark of an unknown isle, (2 lotus dancers magically hold ODY back) but I seemed unable to stop their quest. So I gave strict order for my sailors to return and report, as soon as they d found the source of this strange, enchanting aroma (ODY melts back to the side of stage) SAIL1: As we drew ever closer to the flowers that beckoned, SAIL4: we found natives that seemed kind and welcoming Version 9, 12C18 7 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

8 SAIL5: And offered us delicate flowers to eat SAIL3: and sweet nectar to drink. LIGHT SLOW FADE TO DIM SAIL1: Everything tasted so much richer than venison SAIL2: So much sweeter than wine LOTUS1: why are you here? SAIL3: I can t remember LOTUS2: What was it you have to do? SAIL4: It has slipped my mind LOTUS3: SAIL5: LOTUS1,2,3: Who is it who waits for you? Does it matter? But it doesn t really matter. ALL SAIL: All that matters is to eat of this wonderous fruit LOTUS1: Come, eat and enjoy. LOTUS2: There is no need to worry. LOTUS3: No need to think. LOTUS4: No-one who needs you. LOTUS1&2: No home to return to. LOTUS3&4: No more burdens to concern you. ALL LOTUS: Just eat ( eat repeated like an echo) ALL LOTUS: and rest ( rest repeated like an echo) MUSIC LOTUS DANCE (The Lotus Dancers light lotus flowers in their hands and dance with the sailors. The flowers are floated around the stage, in rhythmic movements to the music, tempting the sailors who find the flowers are always just out of reach. As the music reaches a climax, they managed to grab several flowers, eat and then slowly collapse into a dreamy, restful tableaux, surrounded by the Lotus Dancers) ATH: (Coming forward with HERMES) HERMES! Waken Odysseus! His crew are weak and have been enchanted by the Lotus Eaters. If they do not stop eating the flowers, his men will wither and die like petals in the Spring. Version 9, 12C18 8 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

9 (ALL the following is mimed as part of the music. HERMES goes and whispers in ODY ear. ODY goes to the SAILORS and calls to them over the music. Eventually he wrenches the flowers from their hands and the SAILORS awaken, confused, rubbing eyes, shaking heads etc. He mimes for them to stop eating and shakes them out of their stupor. ATHENA comes forward and at a movement of her arm) FLY GALLERY LOWER BASKETS (to actor chest level) (HERMES shows ODY how to place a nightlight flower into a basket. ODYSSEUS then shows the SAILORS and they continue to do this until all the baskets are filled, at which point the baskets are then hoisted to different heights and depths above the actors still lit) MUSIC END LOTUS DANCE PROJECTION CUT LOTUS FLOWER (As the scene ends and the LOTUS DANCERS melt back into the semi circle, the SAILORS and ODY are left bewildered on the stage. ODY hands back the helm to ODYSSEUS) TEL: How can anything be more tasty than venison? NAUS: (Ignoring him and approaching PENELOPE) and what of you, Queen Penelope? 20 years is a long time to wait for your Lord. How were you able to stand the wait? What of your Island and your people. Please, Queen Penelope, tell us of your trials, back here in Ithaka. PEN: Indeed, Princess. It was a long and desperate wait, but I always believed Odysseus would return and I thank Athena for giving me the strength to endure. LIGHT GODS COLD LIGHT (All mortals freeze) ACT 1, SCENE 5: GODS PART 2 APH: (sarcastically mimicking PEN) I thank Athena for giving me the strength to endure. ATH: (angrily) and so she did, Aphrodite! After 10 long years at war in Troy, Penelope expected Odysseus to return and bring stability back to her home. But thanks to your meddling Aphrodite and Poseidon s wrath, his journey home took even longer. ZEUS: I wonder at these mortals. Their lives so fleet, their bodies so weak. ATH: APH: ZEUS: And their hearts so strong and true. Not so true, Athena. Odysseus spent a whole year placating the witch Circe and 7 more languishing in the arms of Calypso! And what of Penelope? I heard that as soon as it seemed Odysseus would never return, every Lord in Greece appeared to descend upon the rich and beautiful island of Ithaka, hoping to claim it as they re own. Version 9, 12C18 9 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

10 APH: ATH: They also descended hoping to marry Ithaka s rich and beautiful Queen. And all the while Penelope waited, hoped and suffered HERM: If it wasn t for the dream you weaved and sent to her one night, gentle Athena, Penelope would not have been able to hold them at bay so long. APH: (annoyed) Ah yes, her sudden decision to marry one of them, but only after she had completed the weaving of her Father-in-Law s funeral shroud. POS: But it never was finished! APH: ZEUS: Enough with your squabbling Men are so easily fooled SOUND SMALL THUNDER RUMBLE ZEUS: I am interested in this display of female devotion. Show me again, Hermes, how Penelope faire HERM: As you wish, Great Zeus. (he wafts his hand as cue for lights and music) ACT 1, SCENE 6: PENELOPE & MELANTHO PROJECTION GENTLE RAIN (slow fade to end of scene) SOUND - GENTLE RAIN (slow fade to end of scene) LIGHT FULL LIGHTS DOWN + UP ON PALACE (DSL) SET - Penelope s frame is moved forward (PENELOPE is slowly, methodically, un-ravelling strands of shroud. MELANTHO enters from USL) MEL: My lady, the suitors are calling for more wine. (No response from PENELOPE) MEL: (More insistently) We have little left and most of our food stores are empty. (a beat) My Lady? What should we do? PEN: (trying to compose herself) fetch some from the secret cellar MEL: But weren t you saving that for Odysseus return? PEN: Yes. I had that store set aside 10 years ago. But he has not returned and. (turning suddenly) Oh Melantho, will he ever come home? (she hides her head in her hands as she cries) Version 9, 12C18 10 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

11 MEL: My lady please, don t cry. PEN: I hoped this rain tonight would hide my tears. MEL: Telemachus will hear you. PEN: I feel so alone. I love my son more than life itself, but he looks so much like his father. Every day I am reminded that Odysseus has not seen his son grow to manhood. MEL: Telemachus is a fine son, he has grown to a strong man. You should be proud. PEN: But he grows restless. He needs his father now, to teach him how to rule Ithaka. MEL: He got into an argument again today, my lady. PEN: His father would teach him to manage his emotions. MEL: If Argos hadn t distracted him, I think he would have gotten into a fight. PEN: Dear Argos, silly old dog. He pines for his master, too. MEL: (Trying to bring her back to the immediate problem) My lady, your suitors. They have again demanded an audience with you. PEN: Those vermin have emptied our stores and abused our hospitality. (turning to MELANTHO) Oh, Melantho, they wear me down with their demands to accept that Odysseus must be dead. Why must they also insist that I marry again. MEL: It s true that Ithaka needs a king. We suffer even as you do. We need a strong ruler that will rid us of these leaches once and for all. PEN: How can I chose one of them when I have to believe Odysseus is alive? MEL: Not all the suitors are barbarians, my lady. There are some that have abundant lands and powerful allies. Eurymachus is young and strong and not unattractive. Perhaps it is finally time to remarry? If only to preserve and protect this land? To protect your son and all of us? PEN: (Finally taking control of herself) NO! A new king would only threaten Telemachus birth right. MEL: You still weave your Father-in-law s shroud? (A beat) PEN: Of course. Poor, broken Leartes. He is sick and weak with worry. I believe he clings to life by a thread MEL: He, prays to the Gods every day for his son s return. PEN: If he dies, then the shroud will no longer be my defence. MEL: You still unravel a little, each evening? PEN: Just as my hopes unravel. (starts to cry) Version 9, 12C18 11 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

12 MEL: My lady you are exhausted. You cannot continue this pretence forever. The suitors grow restless and start to doubt that you will marry any of them, when it is finished. PEN: (grabbing MELANTHO S hands) Melantho you must swear! Swear to me and swear on our beloved Goddess Athena, that you will never reveal my secret? MEL: My lady, I swear and will continue to carry your secret, as I have these many years. PEN: (satisfied, she lets go of MELANTHO S hands) I am sorry. I should not have doubted you. You ve been my rock and I could not continue with this pretence without your help. MEL: I shall fetch you some spiced wine, my lady. Perhaps that will aid your sleep tonight. Leave the unravelling just this once. PEN: No. I cannot. I must continue. If ever I stop, I will have betrayed my beloved husband. SOUND BREAKING POTTERY and CHEERING MEL: I shall go and see to the visitors. Perhaps if I trim the oil lamps, the lack of light might remind them of their beds. PEN: (as MEL departs) Melantho? MEL: Yes, my Lady? PEN: thank you (they both return to circle) ZEUS: Curious indeed that she endured so long SET - Penelope s frame is moved forward LIGHT LIGHTS BACK TO GODS COLD POS: I am bored with these women s tears. Let us return to the feast! LIGHT FEAST RETURNS, FULL STAGE Version 9, 12C18 12 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

13 ACT 1, SCENE 7: FEAST PART 3 ALC: A truly remarkable escape Odysseus, from such a tempting island. I shall warn my own sailors of these Lotus Eaters. PEN: I have no doubt your protector Athena had a hand in your rescue TEL: A wondrous tale indeed. (APHRODITE whispers in his ear, reminding him of another of Odysseus loves) But talking of tails, Father, what of Circe. Did you not spend time on her lsland, too? Indeed I did Telemachus and it was she who gave me knowledge of the treacherous monster Scylla and the Whirling abyss that is Charybdis. If not for her advice, none of us would have survived that perilous region ALC: Is Circe not a Goddess that keeps a strange island full of pigs? Indeed Lord Alcinous, but we were soon to discover the true and sinister origin of her snuffling herd Version 9, 12C18 13 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

14 ACT 1, SCENE 8: CIRCE and the PIGS Soon after we left Troy, heady with our victory.(he passes the helm to new ODY) ODY(NEW): (taking the helm).we began our journey home to our loved ones. LIGHT tbc SOUND SEA SOUNDS (The actors create a ship from the CLOTHS and STAVES) As our journey progressed, we were again forced to find safe harbour and forage for supplies SAIL YA: Sire, an island, there! (They beach the ship ) SAIL E: As we worked to tend the ship s needs I sent out some of my men, to scout out the terrain. (He does so. SAILRO + SAILMI go scouting, but eventually disappear, blending into the circle) SAIL AB: and those of us that were left ALL: Did all the hard work! Hours passed SAIL IS: and then a whole day but still my men did not return. SAIL IS: So he sent out more of us SAILYO: to seek out the first scouting party. (SAIL IS & YOL go scouting, but eventually disappear, blending into the circle) SAIL E: Still doing all the hard work! But again, none of them returned. SAIL YA: Sire, I fear this island is wild and treacherous. Then let us go out together and find the men, for we cannot sail on without them. SAIL AB: Reluctantly we left the safety of our ship and the shore. PROJECTION PLANT AND ANIMAL SHAPES AND MOTIVES (throughout the hunt) Version 9, 12C18 14 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

15 (hacking a way through ) We forced our way through wild terrain. SAIL E: Strange birds and beasts threatened from every side (Animals and sounds created by the cast, using CLOTHS and STAVES etc) Eventually, cold SAIL AB: tired SAIL YA: and very hungry We came across a glade SAIL EL: We rested a while LIGHT CENTRAL SPOTLIGHT (JUNGLE LEAF GOBO?) PROJECTION JUNGLE LEAF But as we rested, a strange vision appeared (HERMES appears to ODY - only) Who are you stranger? Identify yourself? SAIL YA: (To another sailor) Who is he talking to? SAIL AB: (miming he s mad) There is no one there! HERM: Gentle Odysseus. I am Hermes, sent by the Gods to warn you. You abide on the island of Aeaea, home to the cunning witch Circe. Circe? A witch? SAIL EL: What did he say? SAIL YA: A witch! SAIL AB: Where? HERM: Know, Odysseus, that Circe is nigh. She has enchanted your men and turned them all into swine to swell her herds. How? SAIL EL: How what, my Lord? HERM: She tempts all that visit her, with promise of Xenia. But the food and drink she offers is enchanted. Version 9, 12C18 15 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

16 Enchantments! (Sailors react) HERM: Take this (he produces a flower) PROJECTION SNOWDROP But this is Moly SAIL EL: Be careful, Lord SAIL YA: That is Moly, the bulb that flowers briefly in Spring SAIL AB: and Moly is poisonous! HERM: It is also the antidote to her enchantments and you must remember to eat it, before you partake of her hospitality. Only then will you be immune to the effects of her magic (he departs) (chases after Hermes DSL the other Sailors get up to join him) And so we travelled on (ODY ushers his Sailors on, they follow, reluctantly. Actors make animal noises) SAIL EL: and eventually came to a wondrous palace (CIRCE appears, surrounded by pigs + YOL & IS. ODY and SAILORS are welcomed in) CIRCE: Welcome my Lord, I have been expecting you. You and your men must be tired after your journey. Please eat and drink as much as you wish from my table. ALL SAIL: (As YOL & IS bring column as table top ) Excellent! (SAILORS sit immediately and start to mime stuffing food and drink. ODY moves DS and secretly swallows the bitter tasting flower so audience can see) MUSIC CIRCE ENCHANTMENT LIGHT MORPH INTO MAGICAL LIGHT PROJECTION FLOWER MORPHS TO PIG CIRC: Eat and rest and you will soon feel transformed...to your true selves! (SAILORS eat and laugh, stuffing each other with food. A laugh becomes a snort. More laughter. Improvised slow transformation into pigs. Comic possibilities, as food fight develops and sailors enjoying shoving food in each other s mouths PIGS offer ears, tails and snouts, which SAILORS help each other to gradually transform into pigs, laughing at each other so much they collapse on all fours etc) (At the end of the sequence, once transformed into pigs, with snouts and tails, the FOOTLIGHT actors run into and through the audience and exit SIDE of the audience. Footlights remain in Studio until after Interval. Only CIRCE and ODY are left on stage they swap mantles with Spotlight Circe and ODY) Version 9, 12C18 16 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

17 Version 9, 12C18 17 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

18 ACT 1, SCENE8A: CIRCE & ODYSSEUS CIRC: How is it that you are not transformed? ODYSSEY! Witch, you have enchanted my men. But I am immune to your charms and have eaten Moly, given to me by Hermes CIRC: You are beloved of the Gods! (Kneeling) My Lord who are you that are so blessed? CIRC: I am Odysseus and I have the love and protection of blessed Athena herself. Forgive me for me for trying to deceive you My Lord Odysseus. Restore my men and I shall forgive your magic. CIRC: Oh stay with me, My Lord, favoured of the moon Goddess. Tarry with me and rest safely. And as you rest, I shall teach you how to survive the treacherous waters and dangers that Poseidon s waters have in store for you, on your journey home. CIRC: CIRC: And so we stayed. The men were restored And we enjoyed all the hospitality of the island for almost a year before Circe finally divulged her knowledge. Odysseus, you have made me love you, when at first I would have enchanted you. Now I wish you would stay with me, when I know you will not. I must leave, Circe. I would be with my own family, on my own isle. CIRC: If you must leave, let me at least warn you. First you will come to the Sirens who enchant all who come near them. If anyone unwarily draws in too close and hears the singing of the Sirens, his wife and children will never welcome him home again. For these deadly creatures will sing him to death, with the sweetness of their song. Please Odysseus, pass them by and stop your men s ears with wax, so that none of them may hear their beautiful and enchanting song. I wish I could hear such a song, it must be wonderous indeed CIRCE: If you really must listen yourself, then bid your men bind you upright, lashed tight to the mast. Only then may you be safe from their enthral. You must promise, that you must insist that your men obey you command never to release you until you pass the Siren s isle. Even if you beg and pray the men to unloose you, they must bind you even tighter. (ODYSSEUS kisses her hands and calls to gather his crew who come from the circle of actors. CIRCES melts into the crowd, looking back longingly but resigned). Version 9, 12C18 18 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

19 Version 9, 12C18 19 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

20 ACT 1, SCENE 9: THE SIRENS (As ODY passes the HELM to another ODY, new sailors appear from amongst the circle and gather around a fire they create, to share the gossip) SAIL LE: Did I hear our Captain right? SAIL AN: We sail passed the Island of the Sirens? SAIL S: The witch Circe warned him to steer clear of it SAIL C: for the Sirens are beautiful but deadly. SAIL J: I heard they sit beside the ocean, combing their long golden hair SAIL AF: and singing to passing sailors. SAIL MA: But anyone who hears their song is bewitched by its sweetness, SAIL MI: and they are drawn to that island like moths to a flame. SAIL AN: And their ship smashes upon rocks as sharp as spears! SAIL S: Those sailors join the many victims of the Sirens in a meadow filled with skeletons. SAIL LE: (as ODY enters, he stands) But as our Captain commands (ALL Sailors stand/salute), we obey! Take this wax men and stuff it into your ears! (ODY hands out wax to all his sailors who plug their ears) SAIL SO: SAIL MI: SAIL SO: (to SAIL MI) Can you hear me? (shrugging, not hearing) Whaaaaat? You re as smelly as a skunk! (puts thumbs up) (SAIL MI puts up thumbs and everyone smiles and thumbs up) SAIL LE: So we set sail (They create ship and sail) SAIL AN: Reluctantly SAIL SO: (Shouting) and after sailing for a night Version 9, 12C18 20 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

21 SAIL2: (Shouting) And a day We discovered our path indeed passed directly alongside that magical island (SIRENS appear and start to hum and sway/dance, either side of ship) MUSIC SIRENS (OPENING BARS OF MUSIC) Men listen, I beg of you, to this magical sound! SAIL MA: (Shouting) We lashed our Captain to the mast as he commanded SAIL AN: ( as they do this, shouting) And stuffed the wax even deeper into our ears MUSIC SIRENS SING (LIVE or RECORDED ACCOMPANIMENT) Brave Odysseus come thou near Our celestial voice to hear Weaving notes that intertwine Gradually will make you mine Beg your men the boat to stear Come Odysseus do not fear (As the song develops we hear/see it first from ODY point of view beautiful singing) MUSIC LOW (SO ODY audible) My Men! Harken! Listen to this strange and beautiful music. MUSIC UP - DISCORDANT (As the music changes to discordant version, we see the SAILOR s frightened and disgusted) Come Odysseus nearer still Sail your ship so close until We can wrap you in our arms Soothe your worries with our charms Bravest Hero fear no ill These our voices soft not shrill Version 9, 12C18 21 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

22 MUSIC LOW (SO ODY audible) Men, I beg of you! Don t you hear? Don t you see? These rare and delicate creatures sing us to them. (the SAILORS check ODY bonds) Come Odysseus faster row Sluggish sailors go too slow Men untie me immediately! I command you! Change course immediately and let us fall into the welcome arms of these Goddesses! Once you taste our watery kiss Die forever in such bliss No Men, hear my plea. As you love me, turn about and let us go back! We move ever further from this magical sound and my heart will break if we leave them behind! Sink into our world below We will gently help you go (The SIRENS singing and movements change according to whether singing the song beautifully or discordantly. All circle actors join in with the singing and swaying movements, possible LIVE percussion etc. As the SIRENS gradually melt away and the sailors are safe, they unstuff their ears and rub them etc). This ODY and the main ODY swap helms with a nod and the SAILORS return to the semi-circle, patting each other with relief as they go.) Version 9, 12C18 22 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

23 ACT 1, SCENE 10: FEAST, PART 3 LIGHT RESTORE FEAST, FULL STAGE (Seated actors around stage applaud the story telling. NAUS, TEL, PEN and ALC stand and join ODY) NAUS: You truly have the love of Athena, my Lord TEL: And yet you still did not return immediately, Father? Have you ever been stuck between a rock and a hard place, my boy? (He glances between PENELOPE and NAUSICAA). To reach home, we were forced to sail through the straits of Messina. PEN: (shocked) But that takes you directly passed the Capricious rocks of the Monster Scylla and the whirling mouth of cavernous Charybdis! (Actors all react in fear and astonishment). ALC: PEN: Those waters are more treacherous than any magical flower or enchanted song. You didn t tell me of this, ODYSSEUS! NAUS: It was that adventure which caused him to wash up on our island. Indeed that is so, Princess. (ODY steps forward to narrate next story. NAUS, PEN, TEL, ALC return to semi circle and become SAILORS?) Version 9, 12C18 23 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

24 ACT 1, SCENE 11: SCYLLA & CHARYBDIS On and on we sailed, hoping always, to catch site of our beloved Ithaka (he passes the HELM to another ODY) But Poseidon was angry ODY/POS: and determined that not I or any of my crew would ever set foot on the shores of our home again (NEW SAILORS create ship with ODY at prow) (over the opening bars) MUSIC SCYLLA & CHARYBDIS intro SAIL1: As we sailed valiantly on, the towering rocks that formed the 6 heads of Scylla loomed ominously closer PROJECTION 6 HEADED MOUNTAIN, QUAKING MUSIC S&C MUSIC SEQUENCE (Bruckner s Symphony, VOLUME LOW for speech) SAIL2: The earth began to quake SAIL3: and the seas began to boil SAIL1: and the waves lashed frantically, trying to engulf us with their power Be strong men. Have courage! This is the true course! SAIL4: Surely we must move further away or risk tearing the hull apart on those rocks. If we move further East, we risk being swallowed by the monstrous mouth of the eternally whirling maw of Charybdis! PROJECTION WHIRLPOOL (the CHARYBDIS DANCERS create a whirlpool, with wrist and arm BANDS) MUSIC S&C MAIN MUSIC SEQUENCE (more of Bruckner) (the sailors mime sailing in zig zags, sometimes closer to SCYLLA, sometimes closers to CHARYBDIS. At one point in the sequence, 2 sailors are engulfed and eaten by Scylla, but the ship survives. (HERMES arrives and whispers in ODY ear) PROJECTION WHIRLPOOL and/or MOUNTAIN TOGETHER (AKA Captain Kirk) We must use the power of the whirlpool to sling shot our ship out of the danger! Scot ageaus. Make it so! SAIL1: (AKA Engineer SCOTTIE) It canna be done, Cap n, the force will tear her apart! Version 9, 12C18 24 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

25 (the sequence continues and eventually the sailors manage to sail passed the hazards and into the audience. As they do so, the S&C DANCERS recede off stage) MUSIC CLIMAX and CONCLUSION. LIGHT HOUSE LITS UP Interval MUSIC SOUNDS OF WAVES ON SHORE, GULLS etc Version 9, 12C18 25 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

26 ACT 2 ACT 2, SCENE 1 - PHAEACIAN GAMES (As the final audience members get seated, ACTORS gradually enter, doing warm up exercises, to prepare for the Phaeacian games. As the final audience sits, ALCINOUS enters) LIGHT HOUSE LITS DOWN, FULL STAGE BRIGHT HERALD: Pray silence for our Honoured Lord and ruler of our glorious land Of Phaeacia, His illustrious Majesty, King Alcinous! (cheers from the actors) HERALD: and his daughter, the fair Princess Nausicaa! (he gestures and NAUSICAA and ODYSSEUS step forward) ALC: My people, I thank you. Daughter introduce our mysterious guest. NAUS: Though naked when he arrived on our shores and weakened by a terrible ship wreck, this noble sailor has the bearing of a King and we shall treat him as such ALC: And so we honour our visitor with xenia and geniality. NAUS: As you know my noble Father has decreed that we shall hold a series of Games in honour of a special guest ALC: So. let the Games of Phaeacia begin! PROJECTION 2+1 OLYMPIC STYLE RINGS (or Laurels if copyright issues!) (ODY, ALC and NAUS sit one the dais and watch, reacting) LIGHT GAMES (ideally one setting, with different levels) (Throughout the following series of sports events, each choreographed sequence is performed as an individual piece, with corresponding music) HERALD: Fellow citizens of Phaeacia, Let the Games shall begin with Boxing! MUSIC BOXING (in old fashioned Victorian style, two pairs of actors shadow box, with no actual physical contact. The winners of each match then box each other. The arm of the winner is raised by HERALD. NAUSICAA presents laurel wreath) HERALD: Let the Runners, step forward! (The RUNNERS step forward. Prepare in invisible stocks) Version 9, 12C18 26 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

27 MUSIC RUNNING (The RUNNERs create a sequence, where they run mostly on the spot, sometimes overtaking, or falling behind, tumbling, joshing - with appropriate reactions and finally a winner through tape. Again, The arm of the winner is raised by HERALD. NAUSICAA presents laurel wreath) HERALD: My Lord King, with your permission, your favourite sport WRESTLING! (Actors come forward) MUSIC WRESTLING/GYMNASTICS (Actors create dance/fight sequence in pairs, with Capoeira style movements. The arm of the winner is raised by HERALD. NAUSICAA presents laurel wreath) HERALD: And now, a demonstration by your strongest champion and challenger to Hercules himself! MUSIC STRONGMAN (Moustached strong man pushes Herald out the way and poses for the adoring audience. Amusing and mimed sequence follows, lifting staves, then urns and finally lifting small child either side - raised by actors behind. On completion and after much applause, NAUSICAA comes over and gives him a peck on the cheek he blushes and rushes off embarrassed). My Lord King, you honour me greatly with this display of strength and discipline from the youth of your magnificent Kingdom. On my own Isle, my greatest passion is the discus. Do you play this here on Phaeacia too? ALC: Indeed we do! (calling) Who here will challenge this stranger to a toss of the discus? MUSIC DISCUS (several keen actors come forward. A sequence of throws follow, with audience goading them on as they build to the throw and watching as it flies) NAUS: Now it is your turn, my Lord. Try your hand and show our young men how it should be done. (Lots of encouragement from actors and eventually Odysseus tries. His throw is very long and at first it seems lost in sight, but eventually concludes with SOUND TING (IDEALLY CREATED BY STEWARD OR SOUND GALLERY at back of auditorium!) (Riotous applause and ALCINOUS himself lifts ODYSSEUS arm and NAUSICAA awards him laurels) ALC: Our honoured guest is a powerful athlete indeed and must be beloved of the very Gods to survive his shipwreck. NAUS: Father, with your permission. We have prepared a feast in your honour of our special guest ALC: Come, everyone. You have proved yourself worthy of the laurels and it is time to eat, drink and celebrate. Version 9, 12C18 27 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

28 (Everyone settles down excitedly in semi circle to feast) ALC: Herald. Call forth another of the precious treasures of our Isle. Call for the blind poet Demodicus, who assures me he has been inspired by the Muse Euterpe herself and has written a song especially for you! (Everyone calls for DEMODICUS ready to sing) Version 9, 12C18 28 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

29 ACT 2, SCENE 2: DEMODICUS SINGS LIGHT FADE to SPOT on DEMODICUS SOUND DEMODICUS MUSIC Flute accompaniment? PROJECTION -??? TBC??? (As Each verse refers to a different God, they appears and react to their verse accordingly) I pray to Zeus to give you power My love long lost My long lost love Your enemies to meekly cower My love return to me Pray Aphrodite stays your heart My love long lost My long lost love And keep your faith whilst we're apart My love return to me I pray Poseidon's wrath abate My love long lost My long lost love A sheltered shore be e're your fate My love return to me (PENELOPE appears, weaving and weeping) I pray Athena comforts you My love long lost My long lost love Dear heart be strong, be bold, be true My love return to me I pray that Hermes speeds you home My love long lost My long lost love And soon our precious isle to roam My love return to me LIGHT after verse 3, LIGHTS UP slightly on PEN DSL SET - Penelope s frame is moved forward (As song ends, PENELOPE melts back into the crowd) SET - Penelope s frame is returned Version 9, 12C18 29 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

30 ACT 2, SC 3: PHAECIANS PART 2 (All applaud, ODY wipes away a tear) LIGHT - FEAST LIGHT RETURNS NAUS: And that is when the Lord Odysseus weeping (she goes to him) Forgive me Princess. I was not completely honest enough with you. ALC: Indeed! It was only then you confessed that you were the true and rightful King of Ithaka, husband to Queen Penelope and Father to Telemachus. NAUS: His tears moved me and that is when I persuaded Father to provide Odysseus with a ship and men to return him safely home to you, Penelope. (as ODYSSEUS and NAUSICAA embrace) LIGHT GODS COLD LIGHT Version 9, 12C18 30 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

31 ACT 2, SCENE 3: GODS PART 3 (All mortal actors freeze - GODS re-appear) ATH: Again, Aphrodite, you push Penelope too far. APH: You know that Odysseus was unfaithful, Athena. He has left a flurry of illegitimate children in the wake of his travels! ZEUS: Odysseus would have been home many years earlier if it had not been for your meddling, Poseidon. POS: I had every right to be angry, Zeus and you know it! Odysseus defiled my beloved son, Polyphemus and he deserved my retribution. ZEUS: Brother, let us go back and see this reasoning. I wish to see what transpired on the island of the Giant Cyclops and judge for myself whether or not Odysseus and Penelope deserved to bear your wrath. POS: And so you shall! Version 9, 12C18 31 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

32 ACT 2, SCENE 4: POLYPHEMUS LIGHTS - SEASHORE WARM (HERMES gives rainstick to POSEIDON who uses it to signify his story begins and after a few turns we see sailors arriving on a beach, collecting water and doing usual beach landing activities. POS passes rainstick to an actor to continue). SOUND via LIVE PERCUSSION (rain stick) POS: As Odysseus verminous sailors invaded my son Polyphemus sacred island, they slaughtered many of his precious herd of prized sheep and pillaged freely from the fruits of the land. (4 Sailors take centre stage, including a new ODYSSEUS who takes the HELM from the original. 3 actors become sheep using animal skins and start to graze and baaaaaa. The SAILORS find and kill two sheep and feast. As Polyphemus arrives, the killed sheep roll away to become the corral/fence) PROJECTION - EYE (ideally live or pre-recorded, real or stylised) POLYPHEMUS, a small actor, climbs onto POSEIDON s shoulders and speaks through MEGAPHONE - artificially amplified?) POS/POLY: All who dare disrupt the peace and sanctuary of this island of giants and devour my precious sheep, shall feel my wrath! (The SAILORS and ODYSSEUS are corralled by POLYPHEMUS, using the sheep actors, who hold staves as the fence) POLY: But first, I shall eat two of you as a snack, to sate my enormous hunger! (POLY and POSEIDON grab two of the actors and swallow them. Followed by an amplified burp. These actors roll away and later become sheep). (The remaining SAILORS and ODYSSEUS gather and whisper together. They clearly come to a plan) (stepping forward) oh great and powerful cyclops! We are sorry if we have offended you. We honour you and your great Father. Accept these gifts of wine, in the hope that this will ease your anger. (They start to pass urns of wine hand over hand and gradually offer them to POLYPHEMUS who devours them in a gulp. Each urn is thrown over his shoulder and caught by a SAILOR, who passes it back round to be reused. SAIL1: Slowly SAIL2: But surely The giant cyclops grew more and more intoxicated. POLY: (drunkenly) thish ish rather good stuff, don cha know. Bring me more!!!! Version 9, 12C18 32 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

33 (repeat of the urn sequence, though slightly quicker. Eventually POLYPHEMUS staggers and the small POLYPHEMUS is flown by others, off POSEIDON s shoulders and collapses in a drunken heap. He burps through the megaphone. POSEIDON shakes his head and steps aside and watches the scene continue) Once asleep, we immediately found a suitable tree. SAIL2: and quietly. (sailors start to chop to noisy chopping sounds LIVE PERCUSSION SAIL 1&2: QUI-ET-LY!... (the sailors mime apology and start to chop more quietly live percussion) SAIL1: We began to fell the tree. SOUND TREE FALLING AND CRASHING (they mime the tree falling. All look around to see if POLYPHEMUS wakes. He stirs and BURPS loudly but starts to snore. All sigh in relief and continue to work) Sail2: And then we set to honing the end to a sharp Very sharp SAIL2: Very sharp, point (they mime this to - live percussion) SAIL1: All night we worked SAIL2: Until eventually we fashioned a huge and deadly spear (the spear is eventually created from several staffs. Someone tests this and pricks their finger) (POLYPHEMUS wakes and yawns loudly, then impatiently gestures for POSEIDON to come and put him on his shoulders again) POLY: Fee fie foe fum, I smell the blood of a Grecian man! I have a monumental hunger come upon me this fine morning and I need human meat! SAIL1: But before he could capture another sailor to swallow SAIL2: We plunged the spear into his one SAIL3: enormous ALL: EYE! (they mime heaving the spear back and SLO MO drive it towards POLYPHEMUS. As the spear reaches the actor s head ) Version 9, 12C18 33 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

34 PROJECTION EYE GOES RED AND BLOODY LIGHT STOOL THROW RED MIX SOUND CACOPHANOUS HOWL OF PAIN (amplified megaphone?) SAIL1: The giant screamed in agony SAIL2: And staggered around (POLYPHEMUS staggers around) SAIL1: Blindly clutching at anything that moved (POLYPHEMUS grabs blindly, always missing SAILORS) SAIL2: Trying to locate the treacherous invaders POLY: You will never escape and I shall eventually eat you all! But as Polyphemus grew weak with pain and hunger his anger turned to despair. (POLYPHEMUS soon grows weary and starts to cry) PROJECTION EYE WEEPS LIGHT COLDER LIGHT SOUND GIANT WEEPING (AMPLIFIED MEGAPHONE?) POLY: I can no longer gaze on my beloved sheep, but I can still stroke their silky fleeces Quickly, we grabbed our chance SAIL1: and strapped ourselves to the bellies of his precious pets. (the Sailors each grab one of the other actors who have played sheep who react accordingly. Amusing moment when one of the SAILORS refuses and mimes it s too smelly and is dragged down and under by ODYSSEUS. The sheep start to baaaaaa and graze. SAILORS and ODYSSEUS are crouched underneath them.) POLY: There, my beauties be free to gamble and graze. But first, let me stroke your backs as you leave the safely of your pen, to make sure I free only my beloved sheep and not those cowardly humans! (As POLYPHEMUS allows his sheep to leave the enclosure, he feels their backs, but as they slowly move away, the sailors crawl out with them) POLY: Where have they gone? Where is my dinner? Who has stolen away the humans?! (The sheep and SAILORS create a ship with ODYSSEUS at the helm, away from POLYPHEMUS) Version 9, 12C18 34 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

35 We are here, Polyphemus, on our ship and we have escaped! POLY: Whaaaat? How dare you! Who are you? Me? I am Nobody. POLY: Nobody? Yes and if anyone asks who put out your eye, tell them nobody did it! POLY: Then I swear by my Father Poseidon, that I shall kill nobody and have my revenge! (POLYPHEMUS roars in fury AMPLIFIED) ship) PROJECTION BLIND EYE SQUINTS (BLOODY) (POLYPHEMUS mimes throwing rocks in the direction of the SOUND DRUMS AND CYMBOLS (LIVE or RECORDED) (The SAILORS, SHIP actors and ODYSSEUS sail off stage, but not before ODY returns the helm to ODYSSEUS. POSEIDON removes the small actor from his shoulders, hugs him and that actor exits) LIGHTS GODS LIGHT RETURNS ACT 2, SCENE 5: GODS PART 4 POS: But I know it was the cunning Odysseus that tortured and blinded my son ATH: And that is why, despite all his other escapes and near misses, you still caused him to be ship wrecked and lose all his crew? POS: drowned. But for your interference, helping him to a safe shore, Odysseus would have been justly ATH: The punishment was too great. At least he lived, even if that shore was home to poor Calypso. APH: She certainly didn t seem to mind finding such flotsam on her beach! ZEUS: Indeed, I believe he stayed with her for 7 years! ATH: And that was only by your own interference, Aphrodite, helping her with her enchantments HERM: I always wondered how he managed to believe only a night had passed, when each turn of the moon was in fact a whole year ZEUS: You tortured him by sending him those dreams, Athena. Version 9, 12C18 35 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

36 ATH: They both suffered. Even as he was tempted by her beauty and charms, he ever yearned for home. Calypso could never hope to hold him long POS: Another weak woman. APH: Then let it be my turn Poseidon, to show you a story. A tale of eternal suffering. Let me show you how this young Goddess has a dreadful punishment forced upon her, eternally fall in love with, yet lose all men who visit her island (she wafts her hand as signal for scene change) ACT 2, SCENE 6: CALYPSO RELEASES ODYSSEUS LIGHT CALYPSO ISLAND (warm and dappled?) SOUND CALYPSO MUSIC (from Ithaka) PROJECTION PALM FROND waving? (ODYSSEUS enters, sleepily and looks out to sea. CALYPSO enters and wraps a cloak around ODYSSEUS shoulders) CAL: Again you ve awoken and disturbed our rest. I had another dream. CAL: Come, lie in my arms and I will soothe you to dreamless sleep No, Calypso. Not tonight. I dreamt of Penelope. She was stroking our baby son s hair and singing the lullaby taught to her by my old nurse Eurycleia. CAL: But it s just a dream. So very far away. And I dreamed of my son. (turning to CALYPSO) Calypso, Telemachus must have grown so tall now and I haven t seen him since he was but a babe. He needs his father. He needs me home. CAL: We all have our needs, Odysseus. I have wavered too long. I must return and see my family. My Father must be so old now. I pray to Zeus that Laertes still lives still. CAL: The Gods hear you, my love. (she gently pulls him by the arm) Come, rest again and fear not. (ATHENA steps forward and puts her hand on that of CALYPSO, to break the spell) No. I am sorry, Calypso. (As ODYSSEUS pulls his arm away from Calypso.) Version 9, 12C18 36 by Ginny Avery, for Encore

37 LIGHT COLD GODS LIGHT SOUND ALL FX / MUSIC CUT It is decided. I have no choice. My boat is finally sea-worthy and I shall leave at first light, when the tide is high (he leaves the lit area) CAL: Oh Gods, why must you punish me so? I love Odysseus, but I cannot make him stay. Beautiful, unmatcheable Aphrodite, let another year pass for him tonight.. (she exits into the crowd) LIGHT RETURN to FEAST ACT 2 SCENE 7: PENELOPE S SECRET (FEAST PART 5) ODY & ATH: And thus Athena woke me from Calpyso s enchantments with a dream and led my feet back to my beloved Island. TEL: (Joking with Nausicaa) Looking more like a ragged old beggar than a returning king. PEN: (casting a warning look at TEL) But your ancient nurse Eurycleia recognised you (to Nausicaa) as she washed his feet, she saw the distinctive scar on his foot. Indeed my Queen. There was no fooling old Eurycleia. She aided my return to court in disguise. I wished to see for myself what damage had been wrought in my absence. TEL: PEN: Let me tell of the battle, Father! In good time, Telemachus. First, let me describe the chaos. (she begins her tale) PEN: The Many suitors that had vied for my hand for so many years grew more restless with each passing month. Eventually it was by treachery that one of the Lords discovered my secret. NAUS: What secret? PEN: I promised I would indeed marry one of them if only they would wait until I had woven my Father-in-law s funeral shroud. NAUS: But such a precious work may take years to complete! PEN: Indeed, Princess. But they also did not know that I weaved by day, but unravelled a little of my work each night. ALC: PEN: ALC: TEL: Did you never complete the work? I was betrayed Lord Alcinous, by my own maid Melantho. and how did these riotous suitors receive this news? Badly! They almost destroyed our palace in their fury. (Actors step forward to become the suitors. ALCINOUS and NAUSICAA melt back into the crowd) Version 9, 12C18 37 by Ginny Avery, for Encore