Customer Reviews

Lysistrata (Dover Thrift Editions)

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"Lysistrata," the play by Aristophanes, has been published in an anonymous translation as part of the Dover Thrift Editions series. The opening commentary on the text notes that this play dates back to 411 BCE. Aristophanes tells the story of his title character, an Athenian woman who, weary of war, conceives a bold plan: she enlists the women of Greece to refuse to have sex with their men until the men make peace.

The plot of this play is thus quite simple, but it is marvelously handled by the author. The play is a rich and effective mix of slapstick antics, bawdy wordplay, and biting sociopolitical commentary. At the center of this enjoyable play is the commanding figure of Lysistrata. Articulate and resolute, she is truly one of the great characters of world drama; she's a woman with a bold vision.

Although it is a funny comedy, "Lysistrata" does deal with some serious issues that remain relevant after all these centuries. Recommended as a companion text: "Necessary Targets," a play by Eve Ensler. This non-comedic drama also deals with the issue of women in a country at war.

Last semester, I took a college course on comedic drama. Lysistrata was one of the first plays the class read, and it, the oldest play we read, provided the room of twenty-somethings with our biggest belly-laugh of the semester. That, it seems, attests to the endurance of this theatrical masterpiece.

The plot is outstanding. The country is involved in a needless war that is tearing everyone apart. In response, Lysistrata leads the women in a conspiracy to stop the war. They will lock themselves in the temple and withhold sex from their men until the war stops. The outcome is increasingly hilarious (and bawdy), and profound.

And of course, the play wouldn't still be around if it were simply funny. There are layers of meaning here and, in true comedic fashion, an appeal to a better way of life. The play builds to an appeal to a more spirit-filled, more peaceful, and loving, way of living. It's no wonder that this play is still relevant 2500 years after it was written.

I read Lysistrata several months ago and expected it to be positively boring. I was wrong. It's a smart, hilarious play about the power of sex over war. Very enjoyable!

Lysistrata, wife of an influential Athenian has had it with 20+ years of war with Sparta and calls on her sisters from around Greece (including Sparta) to plot to end the war once and for all. The two-pronged plan is elegant in its simplicity: take over the treasury so that no more money can be spent on war, and deny their husbands marital congress until they agree to make peace with each other. The beauty of the play (and what makes it enjoyable to the 21st century reader) is that it speaks to the most basic needs of the human condition while allowing the reader to freely translate the action to modern times. Part of the fun is envisioning the staging of this play - the battle between the women and the graybeards (a slightly distressing scene since my acquisition of an AARP card) - and the approach of the envoys for the peace talks whose obvious sexual distress assures the women of the impending success of their plan provoked an image that actually had me laughing out loud. All in all, it helps support the notion that the classics can be (and should be) fun.

This edition has two advantages: it is very cheap and very tame. However, this same translation is the problem, although it manages to avoid some of the anachronistic elements of some more liberal translations. The explicit material is what defines this play and gives it its classical "Greekness" but none of that is present in this edition. It is certainly written for a younger audience not in touch with Greek theater.

It's cheap, but this text does not reflect what the Greek one does. Skip it.

This is probably the first book that more or less recognizes the power women really hold over men. A great comedy, it is timeless as the feminist issues arise over and over again in the history of our civilization. Make sure to pick up on the imagery, and have a blast reading about desire, power, and sex. Isn't it good to know that humanity's problems are eternal? :-) Enjoy!

Bought this play to use as a prop in another play 'So What Do We Do About Henry?' by Charlotte Hastings. I am now hoping to get our amateur theatre group interested in performing Lysistrata. Could be good fun! Very interesting that a play written thousands of years ago can still be relevant today.

This was exactly what I was hoping for, a simple copy of Lysistrata's text. No extra frills, no bells and whistles. Just perfect.

"Lysistrata" is truly a revolting play that pokes fun at women. They say Aristophanes thought women to be more than toys for their men, but I see the opposite. I think Aristophanes made a satire out of women and the only thing they are good at: sex and reproducing male babies. This is no compliment. To think that the only way women can change their husband's minds would be by withholding intercourse. This is preposterous! I found this play derogatory with ill humor. I do not recommend.