| Internationalt Lysistrata Project: let's make love, not war. |
Have you ever heard of "International Lysistrata Project"? On March 3, 2003, fifty-nine countries hosted 1,029 readings of Lysistrata, Aristophane's anti-war comedy, to protest the Bush Administration's unilateral war on Iraq.
Readings were held in theatres large and small, schools, churches, libraries, in music halls, homes, cafes, community centers, clubs, subway cars, parks, and on street corners. More than 300,000 people attended readings organized by the 1,029 Lysistrata Project "spearheads."
Readings raised an estimated $125,000 for non-profit organizations working for peace and humanitarian aid. Some readings didn't raise money, but the fact that they occurred at all resonated as a powerful symbol of world citizens united for peace. For example, a secret reading in northern Iraq was organized by members of the international press corps, who had to keep quiet about it or risk losing their jobs.
The international Lysistrata Project participants earned the news coverage they received. The Project was featured on multiple CNN news programs, PBS' Lehrer News Hour, and many network and local news programs. Dozens of radio programs featured stories about the project, including NPR's All Things Considered and Dutch, French, German, Canadian, Japanese and Greek stations.
** Voice of the Lysistrata Project
The idea for Lysistrata Project was hatched in early January 2003, when New York actresses Kathryn Blume and Sharron Bower were inspired by Theaters Against War (THAW) to actually do something about their feelings regarding the war on Iraq.
Kathryn Blume says that the purpose of the Lysistrata Project is not education, but expression, and above all, "to make it clear that President Bush does not speak for all Americans."
"Though we are not necessarily suggesting these tactics be used to end this war, Lysistrata provides a humorous entree into a healthy community dialogue: What CAN the women do on a local level to stop "diplomacy by violence" in our world?"
Interviewed on NPR in January, Blume said the worldwide act of theatrical dissent aims to engage participants and audiences in antiwar dialogue. One of the hopes is to provide an alternative to the constant stream of war talk issuing from the White House and dominating the mass media.
** About the play LysistrataLysistrata, a comedy by Greek dramatist Aristophanes (447 - 385 BC), tells the story of a group of women from opposing states who unite to end the Peloponnesian War .
After matronly stormtroopers take over the building where public funds are kept, the women rise to end the war by withholding sex from their mates -- Until, desperate for intimacy, the men finally agree to lay down their swords and see their way to achieving diplomatic peace.
The original Lysistrata was performed to a war-weary audience that had already endured two decades of civil war and still had seven more to go. The Athenians' army was decimated, their economy was in ruins, and, as they didn't have enough problems, they had recently undertaken a disastrous invasion of Sicily that wiped out nearly their entire fleet.
But Aristophanes knew how to please an audience; like all his theatrical works, Lysistrata is a fantasy and a happy one at that. Lysistrata helps negotiate a truce between Athens and Sparta and peace is restored across the land. The men lay down their swords, Lysistrata and her sisters open their arms (and their legs) and the bedrooms of Greece echo with the moans and sighs of conjugal bliss. Not so far out, really, when you think about it.
** Background
亞裡士多分尼的《莉西斯特拉忒》首演於西元411年，是現存最早的一部以女性為出發點，並針對反戰立場而與男性抗爭的劇本。類似像《莉西斯特拉忒》這類描寫一群女性的作品，亞裡士多分尼還有另外兩部：Thesmophoriazusae和Ecclesiazusae。
古希臘語中，Lysistrata含有"解散軍隊"的意思，劇本意在抗議Peloponnesian War戰爭，可是亞裡士多分尼卻選擇了兩個非常通俗的元素"性"與"錢"來作為要挾停戰的工具，並且在劇本中加入了大量的"性暗示"和黃色笑話。整個故事在作者巧妙地構思之下變得有趣而不枯燥，觀眾也可以明確地了解"性"與"錢"只是手段，政治的訴求才是劇本的主題。
關於角色的描述，《莉西斯特拉忒》明顯地不同於以往戲劇主角，它並不是一個丑角，而是一個有智慧和有意志力去貫徹其理想的女性。她的成功也不是一蹴而就的，而是經過許多的波折和困難。亞裡士多分尼也在句中描述了當時希臘男女在社會上的不同處境，以及世俗觀念對他們的期待和約束。
由於其"反戰"的主題，《莉西斯特拉忒》成為亞裡士多分尼最常被搬上舞臺的劇作之一。在1872年，奧地利劇作家Ludwig Anzengruber曾將《莉西斯特拉忒》改編為"Die Kreuzelschreiber"（《十字劃押的人》）。美國歷史上第一位黑人奧斯卡影帝Sidney Poitier（西德尼·波蒂埃），就是由於其在百老匯歌劇《莉西斯特拉忒》中的出色表現，才逐步走上熒幕的。
** Links
http://www.sparknotes.com/drama/lysistrata/summary.html 戲劇 Lysistrata 學習指南
http://www.gansudaily.com.cn/20030306/602/2003306A00612017.htm (新聞)美國女藝人號召婦女"性罷工"反戰
http://column.bokee.com/5441.html (新聞)從大街到舞臺，好萊塢正在對美國對伊戰爭發起進攻
(Agencies)