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wMelissa's AP stories |
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Here are my stories whose links are no longer available. Only the ones with bylines are included here, for the non-bylined ones that I found more interesting, go to melswar.blogspot.com. Thanks! Let me know what you think!
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wFriday, April 04, 2003 |
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March 1, 2003
Internationally coordinated theater piece promotes peace<
By MELISSA MANSFIELD
Associated Press Writer
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) _ From a community college auditorium in Plattsburgh, to an art gallery in Ithaca, a mall bookstore in Syracuse, and a cafe in Saratoga Springs, groups around the state will perform an ancient Greek play to protest a possible war with Iraq on Monday.
Called the Lysistrata Project, actors and activists around the state will join more than 900 readings in 56 countries of the Aristophanes comedy. It was originally planned for three cities, but e-mails and public radio interviews have spread the word and gathered groups of participants.
"I thought it was important to be speaking out about what's happening in the world right now, as an artist and as a citizen of the world," said Katie Zaffrann, 20, from Syracuse. "The project seemed like a great way to join with people all over the world in one great big voice."
Lysistrata tells the story of a group of women from the opposing sides of the Peloponnesian War who work together to end the violence _ they withhold sex from their partners until the men put down their swords.
Productions will vary from small sit-down readings to full-scale productions. In Buffalo, Mary Kate O'Connell said, "We have a revolving cast of over 40 actors, mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, Democrats, Republicans, liberal, conservative _ peace loving patriots."
Judith Fetterley is involved with the project in Albany, sponsored by a group called Women Against War, whose goal is to empower women to stop war. Fetterley, a distinguished professor at the State University at Albany, saw a correlation between the groups purpose and the play.
"There were certain kinds of things women could do as a group, and Lysistrata is a play exactly about that," she said. "Women suffer the consequences of war and as women they can do something about it."
Translations of the Aristophanes play vary from the traditional scripts, including one in Buffalo that will follow a 1940s style radio show, complete with commercials and sound effects.
In Ithaca, a women's a capella group called Winnim in Black will perform and a clarinetist will play Greek melodies during the show. In Saratoga Springs, the cast at Caffe Lena will incorporate the John Lennon songs "Give Peace a Chance," "Imagine," and "All You Need Is Love."
A second group in Syracuse decided to read at a Borders Bookstore in Carousel Center mall during lunch hour.
"I was looking for a venue where I would catch a walkthrough audience of people who would not necessarily expect us or agree with us," said organizer Susan Galbraith, a former four-term Republican county legislator.
Many groups are not charging admission, but those that are plan on donating earning to various groups.
Organizers in New York City suggest Madre, which promotes social justice by building partnerships with community-based women's groups, and Education for Peace in Iraq Center, dedicated to defending the human rights of the Iraqi people.
The money collected in Ithaca will go to Conscience and War Counselors, a group that provides counseling about conscientious objection. Proceeds from the production at Russell Sage College for Women in Troy will go to the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Cazenovia College, 20 miles southeast of Syracuse, will donate money to the Afghani Women's Mission.
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On the Net:
www.pecosdesign.com/lys/
www.womenagainstwar.org
posted by
Melissa at 9:38 AM
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