A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Trojan Barbie

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  9w, 4m

Christine Evans

A car-crash encounter with Euripides’ Trojan Women. Past and present violently collide when Lotte, an English tourist who repairs dolls, is captured while on a tour of current-day Troy and flung back into the ancient camp of the original story.

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Trojan Barbie

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    9w, 4m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptation (Literature), Experimental
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior, Teen (Age 14-18)
Accolades
Accolades

  • Winner! 2007 Jane Chambers Award
    Winner! Playwrights First “Plays for the 21st Century” Award 
    Winner! 2009 Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Playwriting Fellowship

Details

Summary

A Car-Crash Encounter with Euripides’ Trojan Women. Past and present violently collide when Lotte, an English tourist who repairs dolls, is captured while on a tour of current-day Troy and flung back into the ancient camp of Euripides’ Trojan Women.

Part contemporary drama, part homage to Euripides’ Trojan Women, Trojan Barbie recasts the legendary fall of the city of Troy against the vivid reality of modern warfare. Poetic, compassionate and tinged with great warmth and humor, Trojan Barbie is an epic war story with a most unlikely heroine, who always looks on the bright side even as past and present collide about her.

History

Trojan Barbie premiered in Cambridge, Massachusetts at American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.) on 28 March 2009. Directed by Carmel O’Reilly, the production featured Emily Alpren, Renzo Ampuero, Kaaron Briscoe, Carl Foreman, Nina Kassa, Paula Langton, Karen MacDonald, Careena Melia, Skye Noel, Jim Senti and Lisette Silva.

Keywords
Performing Groups

The Trojans
HECUBA – Queen of Trojans; widow of Priam.
POLLY X – Hecuba’s youngest daughter, age 15.
CASSANDRA – Hecuba’s prescient daughter; late teens.
ANDROMACHE – Hecuba’s daughter-in-law; Hector’s widow; early 30s.
CLEA – Woman in the camp; also a member of the CHORUS. Age can be flexibly cast.
ESME – Woman in the camp; also a member of the CHORUS. Age can be flexibly cast.
ZOE – Woman in the camp; also a member of the CHORUS. Age can be flexibly cast.
AYLA – Woman in the camp; also a member of the CHORUS. Age can be flexibly cast.

The Others
HELEN – The face that launched, etc. Ageless.
LOTTE – An English tourist and doll repair expert. Age 35-50.
MICA – Camp guard; also assigned to local spin. 30s.
JORGE – Soldier from the conquering army. 20s. Latino.
MAX – Soldier from the conquering army. 20s. African-American.
MENELAUS – Helen’s slighted husband; led the army that destroyed Troy. 30s or 40s.
CLIVE – Lotte’s fantasy partner (actually a waiter.) Ageless and perfect.
OFFICER IN BLUE – Deus Ex Machina from the conquering army.
TALTHYBIUS – Diplomatic African gentleman; messenger from the conquering army. Age can be flexibly cast.

The roles of MENELAUS, CLIVE and OFFICER IN BLUE may be played by the same actor. At the director’s discretion, the same actor may also join the action as a SOLDIER (without lines) in Scenes Eleven and Fourteen.

If necessary, MAX and TALTHYBIUS may also be double-cast, but if resources permit, it’s preferable to cast these as stand-alone roles.

The roles of MENELAUS, CLIVE and OFFICER IN BLUE may be played by the same actor. At the director’s discretion, the same actor may also join the action as a SOLDIER (without lines) in Scenes Eleven and Fourteen.

If necessary, MAX and TALTHYBIUS may also be double-cast, but if resources permit, it’s preferable to cast these as stand-alone roles.

  • Time Period Contemporary
  • Setting

    A barren space that suggests both ancient and modern war zones.

  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Additional Features No Intermission
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • Gun Shots

Media

“Daringly conceived... As hard-edged and eloquent as slam poetry.” – The Edge

“Playwright Christine Evans melds contemporary art and culture with an ancient, mythical war in her explosive new work, Trojan Barbie... An imaginative, time-warped view of the ongoing challenges women have faced since foreign conflict first raged thousands of years ago.” – Talkin’ Broadway

“Based on Trojan Barbie, Christine Evans should be on the radar of anyone who cares about contemporary American theatre.” – OC Weekly

“You will not find a better play. Anywhere. Anytime.” – The Signal Tribune 

Videos

  • Trojan Barbie – Trailer, Elon University youtube thumbnail

    Trojan Barbie – Trailer, Elon University

  • Trojan Barbie – Interview with Playwright Christine Evans youtube thumbnail

    Trojan Barbie – Interview with Playwright Christine Evans

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

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Authors

Christine Evans

Christine Evans

Christine Evans’ work has been produced and received awards in the U.S., Australia and the U.K. Her plays are published by Samuel French (Trojan Barbie); NoPassport Press (War Plays); in Theatre Forum (Issue #35), and in Smith & Kraus’ annual Best Monologues collections. Her ...

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