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Curculio: A Hilarious Tale of Love, Deception, and Prophetic Chefs

Aesculapius, the god of medicine, delivers a prologue to a captivated audience. Lovesick Phaedromus pines for his beloved, Planesium, as comedic chaos ensues. With a mix of misunderstandings, slave dealers, chefs, nurses, and a clever parasite, this play takes you on a journey of laughter and unexpected revelations. Will love prevail in the end?

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Curculio: A Hilarious Tale of Love, Deception, and Prophetic Chefs

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  1. Aesculapius, the god of medicine, delivers the prologue to a captivated audience.

  2. The lovesick Phaedromus indulges in a bit of comic pining as Aesculapius tells the tale of his distess.

  3. “What are we doing up at II in the morning?” Phaedromus and his slave, Palinurus, sleepily wander about before dawn.

  4. The two argue in front of the house of Capadox, the slave-dealer who owns Phaedromus’ beloved, Planesium. If only they could get inside…

  5. Capadox’s door-guard, Leaena, is lured out by the sweet smell of Juicy-Juice. To help pinpoint the source of the nourishing nectar, she calls on her four apprentices.

  6. “What should we do?” The apprentices ponder the best way to find the juice.

  7. Singing seems like a good idea, so they call on the musicians for help. Play on!

  8. Leaena’s apprentices aren’t the only ones who need some food for thought. Phaedromus’ hungry parasite, Curculio, is coming back soon, so Phaedromus hires some chefs to prepare a feast for his return.

  9. Planesium laments her lack of freedom to the disgruntled Palinurus.

  10. Fortunately for her, Phaedromus gives her a much more loving reception.

  11. These aren’t just any chefs--they’re prophetic chefs. What work might the future have in store for them?

  12. Two more prophetic chefs anxiously ponder the future. It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it!

  13. The ailing slave-dealer, Capadox, loudly complains of his woes, to the amusement of four of his slave-girls.

  14. Capadox looks a little pale! Life sure is difficult when Aesculapius hates you.

  15. The slave-girls provide moral (and choral) support for their master.

  16. The slave-girls are actually nurses! Maybe they can cure Cappadox of what ails him…

  17. There’s no medicine like a good song, especially if it’s in Latin!

  18. Cappadox greets a surprised Palinurus.

  19. Cappadox is haunted by a disturbing dream of Aesculapius. Never fear, however: the Prophetic Chefs are here to help interpret it!

  20. Apparently their interpretation is a little hard for Cappadox to swallow.

  21. Curculio has arrived! Date viam! Make way!

  22. Phaedromus despairs as Curculio tells him that he brought no money back from Caria.

  23. Once an apprentice, always an apprentice. Having failed at being door-guards, the apprentices get a crash-course in economics from the banker, Lyco.

  24. Banking seems pretty hard…maybe it would be easier if they sang about it.

  25. Then again, even Lyco thinks his prospects look bleak. What’s a bankrupt banker to do?

  26. The apprentices try to charm the coins from the spectators’ pockets with yet another song and dance routine.

  27. Curculio disguises himself to trick Lyco out of his money.

  28. The cagey Lyco doesn’t quite buy Curculio’s act. Maybe it’s the eye-patch?

  29. The nurses take some much-needed time off to complain about Cappadox.

  30. Nothing relieves frustration like a good Latin song.

  31. Cappadox grudgingly frees Planesium and hands her over to Curculio.

  32. Cappadox and Curculio finalize the sale of Planesium while Lyco thoughtfully looks on.

  33. Therapontigonus has arrived, and he isn’t happy. Someone has bought his beloved--Planesium!

  34. Therapontigonus and Lyco try to get to the bottom of things. Just who was that one-eyed man who bought Planesium, anyway?

  35. Irate that Cappadox has sold Planesium to someone else, Therapontigonus stalks off in a huff.

  36. Curculio boasts about how easily he duped “that stupid soldier.” Hey, wait a minute! Isn’t that him right there?

  37. That ring on Curculio’s finger…it looks just like Planesium’s! Could he have taken it from Therapontigonus?

  38. Wow! Planesium isn’t really a slave, after all! She’s the long-lost, freeborn sister of Therapontigonus! Who could ever have guessed?

  39. Now that Therapontigonus has found his sister, it’s time for her and Phaedromus to marry. Curculio does his best to move things along and get himself invited to the wedding-feast in the process.

  40. Planesium tells Therapontigonus of her undying love for Phaedromus.

  41. A bad day for Cappadox! First he sells Planesium to the wrong guy, then he has to pay Lyco 40 minae for her, too! Phaedromus and Therapontigonus exhort the doleful slave-dealer to cough up the cash.

  42. It looks like Curculio’s found himself--four of himself, to be exact. “I guess now he’s the greatest of five weevils.”

  43. The cast regales the appreciative audience with one last choral ode.

  44. The Cast of Curculio.

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