Myth Drama

Readers Theater Play
The
GREEK MYTH
An ancient story
from Greece
Monster
in the
Maze
Theseus is brave, but is he ANY
match for the dreaded Minotaur?
A Greek myth retold
by Barbara Pitts
art by Tony FOTI
Check It Out
as you read, Look for:
A Heroic Character
Theseus is a famous Greek
hero. Such heroes were
warriors of special strength,
courage, or ability. Look for
these traits in the story.
CHARACTERS
CHORUS MEMBERS 1, 2, 3, & 4 (CM1, CM2, CM3, CM4):
THESEUS [THEE-see-us]:
AEGEUS [ee-JEE-us]:
YOUTHS 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5:
ARIADNE [ayr-ee-AD-nee]:
MINOS [MY-nus]:
MESSENGER

INTRODUCTION
This play is similar to those
performed in ancient Greece—it
has a chorus that comments on the
action. The chorus also describes
the violent scenes, because the
Greeks believed that violence
should happen offstage. That’s a big
difference from the entertainment
of today—but as you’ll see, these
old stories can be just as exciting
as modern blockbusters!
SCENE 1
The steps of King Aegeus’S
palace in Athens
CM1: This is the city of Athens,
a beautiful city on the sea.
All Chorus: Athens! Best city
in Greece!
CM2: We are ruled by King Aegeus.
He is a good ruler, but every nine
years, he shudders with fear.
CM3: We all shudder with fear.
You’ll find out why in a moment.
CM4: Luckily, Aegeus has a son,
Theseus, who is known for his
bravery.
CM1: Ah! Here he comes now.
Theseus: Citizens, what is
troubling you?
CM2: It is time again for the sacrifices.
Theseus: What sacrifices?
CM3: King Minos of Crete has a
monster. They call it the Minotaur.
It’s half-bull, half-man, and it lives in
the center of a huge, puzzling maze
called the Labyrinth.
All Chorus: No one can escape the
Labyrinth!
CM4: Every nine years, we must
sacrifice seven boys and seven girls to
this monster, or evil King Minos will
wage war against Athens.
Theseus: My father would never
negotiate with a madman.
CM1: I wouldn’t be so sure.
SCENE 2
Inside the palace of King Aegeus
Theseus: Father, is it true? Will you
obey Minos and sacrifice Athenians?
Aegeus: I have no choice. Minos has
a huge army—he could kill us all!
Theseus: Send me then. I will slay
this monster.
Aegeus: No! It is far too dangerous.
Theseus: I must go, Father! Please,
prepare a ship for me.
CM2: Though it causes him great
sorrow, Aegeus orders a ship
prepared for Theseus.
CM3: Its sails are black like death.
Theseus: Father, when I return,
I will raise white sails, so you will
know I have killed the monster.
Aegeus: You are the most important
thing in the world to me, Theseus.
If I see black sails, I will die of grief.
Theseus: We’ll return with white
sails, I promise.
All Chorus: Theseus, you are our
only hope!
SCENE 3
On board the ship, sailing
toward the island of Crete
CM4: The seven girls and six boys
on board with Theseus are pale
and quiet.
Theseus: My friends, don’t be afraid!
Youth 1: I admire your attitude, but
you do not know the horror you face.
Theseus: The Minotaur is only a bull.
Youth 2: It has razor-sharp horns.
Youth 3: It has torn apart many as
strong as you.
Theseus: I will try to persuade King
Minos to stop this savage practice.
Youth 4: What if you can’t?
Theseus: Then I will kill the
Minotaur, as I have killed many
monsters in the past.
Youth 5: Then what? You’ll be caught
in the Labyrinth. No one has ever
been able to find a way out of those
twisting paths.
Theseus: Hush, now. These
thoughts are useless.

SCENE 4
King Minos’S palace in Crete
CM1: Guards march the 14 Athenian
youths to meet King Minos and his
daughter, Ariadne.
Ariadne: Father, why are these
Athenians here?
Minos: You are too young to
remember, but we had Athenian
guests nine years ago too.
Ariadne: Why?
Minos: To feed them to my Minotaur,
of course!
Ariadne (shocked): What? You are
going to feed human beings to that
monster?
Minos: It is not your concern. This is
between me and the city of Athens.
Ariadne: Father, have pity on these
poor young people! Look how
frightened they are.
CM2: He ignores her and inspects the
youths.
Minos: What a nice, tender selection
they’ve sent this time. Nine years ago
they were all runts.
CM3: Theseus steps forward.
Theseus: I beg you to show mercy.
If you do, you will be
considered a great ruler.
Minos: How dare you!
Ariadne: Who are you? Why
are you so brave?
Theseus: I am the son of King
Aegeus. Please make your father
stop this terrible crime.
Minos: Ariadne, go to your
room! Do not set eyes on this
young man again.
CM4: She leaves and Minos
yells to the group.
Minos: To prison with all of
you! The guards will come for
you at dawn. It will be a treat to
feed you to my Minotaur.
SCENE 5
Midnight in the prison
CM1: That night, Theseus hears
someone approach.
Theseus: Who is it?
Ariadne: Shhhhh! I snuck past the
guards. The fools are sleeping.
Theseus: You disobeyed your father!
Ariadne: Lower your voice. If anyone
finds me here, I will be sent to the
Minotaur too.
Theseus: Why are you taking
this risk?
Ariadne: I want to help end this
terrible tradition. I have brought you
a sword and a ball of string.
Theseus: What? How will string help?
Ariadne: I will hold one end at the
entrance to the maze. You will hold
the other end as you walk through it.
Theseus: So after I kill the monster,
I can follow the string to find my
way out.
Ariadne: Yes, and then we will
rescue the others!
SCENE 6
The Labyrinth
CM2: Ariadne holds one end of the
string as Theseus disappears into
the Labyrinth, unrolling the ball
of string as he goes.
All Chorus: Courageous girl!
Honorable boy!
CM3: As Theseus wanders through
the maze, he hears a terrifying sound.
All Chorus: Roar!
CM4: Theseus follows the sound.
CM1: Soon, a wall appears in his path.
Theseus has hit a dead end.
CM2: Desperately, he tries another
path through the Labryinth.
CM3: And another!
CM4: And another!
CM1: Finally, he reaches the center of
the maze. The hideous monster . . .
CM2: . . . is sleeping.
All Chorus: Snort! Growl! Snore!
CM3: Just then, Ariadne appears.
Theseus: Ariadne! Why are you here?
Ariadne: I want to help you. I tied
the string to the entrance so we can
follow it out.
Theseus: Go back! It’s too dangerous!
CM4: The Minotaur awakens.
CM1: The beast groans and
roars and makes all kinds of
horrifying, angry sounds.
All Chorus (improvising
horrible sounds): ROAR!
GRRRRR! ARGH!
CM2: It lowers its sharp horns
toward Theseus, preparing
to charge. Theseus holds
out his sword.
CM3: The Minotaur charges,
snapping Theseus’s sword
in half.
CM4: The Minotaur backs

up and charges again!
CM1: Theseus does not move.
Is our hero in shock?
CM2: No! Theseus dodges the beast
at the last moment.
CM3: The Minotaur’s head slams into
a wall. It falls to the ground, dazed.
CM4: One of its horns has cracked off.
Ariadne: Grab the horn, Theseus!
CM1: Theseus grabs the horn and
stabs the Minotaur. The beast dies.
All Chorus: Theseus has won!
Theseus AND Ariadne: Yes!
CM2: Ariadne and Theseus follow
the string out of the maze and free
the others. Fearing her father’s
anger, Ariadne leaves with the
Athenians.
SCENE 7
The island of Naxos
CM3: Theseus and Ariadne stop
on the island of Naxos to make
some repairs.
CM4: Danger! A ship approaches!
Ariadne: It is one of my father’s.
CM1: A messenger comes ashore.
CM2: Quick, hide!
Messenger: I bear a message
from King Minos. He promises
peace if his daughter is returned.
Ariadne: Could this be true?
Theseus: I don’t trust your father,
Ariadne.
Messenger: Minos is sick with
regret.
Ariadne: Theseus, I must go back.
Theseus: The voyage will be a sad
one without you to share the victory.
Ariadne: I have my own adventures
to live through. Would you flee from
your people? I will return and be a
brave, loving example for my people,
just as you will do in Athens.
Theseus: You are a courageous
friend.
Ariadne: Goodbye!
SCENE 8
OUTSIDE the palace in Athens
CM3: As Theseus sails home, the
youths sing songs of celebration.
CM4: But Theseus can’t stop
worrying about Ariadne.
What would become of her?
CM1: Theseus cannot be cheered
up. In his sorrow, he forgets to
honor a promise.
CM2: King Aegeus sees the sails of
Theseus’s boat approach. They . . .
All Chorus: . . . are black!
CM3: Aegeus believes his son has
died. His old heart breaks.
CM4: Aegeus dies with tear-filled
eyes, gazing out over the sea.
CM1: For a month, Theseus mourns.
CM2: Finally, he comes out of the
palace.
Theseus: People of Athens,
I pledge to protect and lead you.
The memory of my father will
inspire me to be a great king.
All Chorus: Hail, Theseus!
PROMPT
Writing About a Hero
What makes Theseus a hero? Find evidence in the
play that he has special strength, courage, and/
or ability. Look for things Theseus says and does,
as well as things that others say about him. Then
write a paragraph explaining what makes Theseus
a hero.