Shakuntala
Kalidasa
Ryder originally did a close to literal translation of this 4th or 5th century play by the poet Kalidasa. Quite unwieldly with 7 acts and over 40 characters. "This version of Shakuntala represents an earnest effort to adapt for modern purposes one of the world's dramatic masterpieces. Since Shakuntala is a true masterpiece, its spirit is thoroughly modern, in spite of the fifteen centuries that have passed since its first presentation in India. [Except for some minor changes described herein,] the matter of the play is that of Kalidasa's Shakuntala with a minimum of verbal alteration."
- Summary by ToddHW and Author
Cast list:
Prologue: Agnes Robert Behr
Stage-director: redrun
Actress: Lynette Caulkins
King Dushyanta: Alan Mapstone
All-tamer, his son: Damien Le
Madhavya, a clown, his companion: ToddHW
A huntsman: lorda
Parvatayana, a chamberlain: Rapunzelina
Attendant in the king's palace: redrun
Kanva, hermit-father: Brian Fullen
Harita, hermit-youth: ShrimpPhish
Durvasas, an irascible sage: Adrian Stephens
Watcher: Elijah Fisher
Second watcher: Stacey Malcolm
An unnamed hermit: ShrimpPhish
Matali, charioteer of heaven's king: Beeswaxcandle
The chief of police: Greg Giordano
Suchaka, policeman: Sonia
Januka, policeman: Jim Locke
A fisherman: Elijah Fisher
Shakuntala, foster-child of Kanva: Inkell
Anusuya, her friend: rrushme
Priyamvada, her friend: sarabrown
Gautami, hermit-mother: Availle
A maid in the king's palace: Norah Nelson
Suvrata, inhabitant of the grove of the gods: Agnes Robert Behr
Kaushiki, inhabitant of the grove of the gods: Lynette Caulkins
Cries behind the scenes: Rapunzelina
Stage Directions: dc
Editing: ToddHW
(1 hr 27 min)