A Greek key to theatrical terms

Since a classical Greek play opens this week at the College of Charleston, it seems an appropriate time to define some of the early theatrical terms and the playwrights who gave live theater its genesis.

Former English professor at New York University and Texas native, Ceil Cleveland, who was the inspiration for the role of Jacy Farrow in Larry McMurtry's film "The Last Picture Show," has written a concise and informative textbook "1,500 Words in 15 Minutes a Day" (McGraw-Hill) from which this information was gleaned.

--Thespis: A sixth-century Greek poet who was said to have invented tragedy as a dramatic form, and from whom we derive the term thespian, an actor who performs dramatic roles in theatrical productions. Tragedy is the term used for a serious play usually concerning a troubled central character whose problems lead to a disastrous ending brought on by fate or by a tragic flaw in his or her character. It could be a moral weakness, a psychological maladjustment or social pressures. Thespis created a musical form in which he impersonated a single character who engaged a chorus of actors in dialogue, thus he is known as the first dramatist and first actor. However, no work of Thespis has survived.

--Aeschylus: (525-456 B.C.) A Greek tragedian who introduced conflict into drama by creating a second character to oppose the first. He is one of only three great Greek tragedians whose works have survived. He wrote "Prometheus Bound," The Orestia," "Agamemnon" and many others.

--Sophocles: (496-406 B.C.) The second great Greek tragedian whose works survive. He wrote "Antigone," "Oedipus Rex," "Ajax," among others.

--Euripides: (480-407 B.C.) The third great Greek tragedian whose works survive. He wrote "Medea," about a mother who slays her children to take revenge on Jason, the children's unfaithful father. His other well-known plays include "The Trojan Women" and "Andromache."

--Aristophanes: (448-380 B.C.) A contemporary of the three great Greek tragedians, though a bit younger, he wrote many satirical plays, including "Clouds," in which he ridiculed Socrates and his followers, the Sophists. He also penned "The Birds," "Lysistrata" and others. Aristophanes was a favorite writer of satyr plays, thus called a satirist.

--Satyr Play: In the Greek drama festivals, the name for the play that followed the tragic dramas was called the satyr play, which usually made comic ridicule of some current event or popular myth. The progenitors of Stephen Colbert or Jon Stewart, the actors were often dressed as satyrs in goat skins, appeared to be drunk and made fun of the gloominess of tragedy.

Vivica A. Fox in play

What happens when you are a woman who has experienced one heartbreak too many?

The answer lies in the comedy "Whatever She Wants" by Je'Caryous Johnson, to be performed Wednesday and Thursday at Gaillard Auditorium. The play is produced by I'm Ready Productions, founded by producers Johnson and Gary Guidry, who were recently honored by the NAACP with the Trailblazer Award for their "vision and impact in the urban entertainment industry."

"Whatever She Wants" takes us into the life of 40-year-old Vivian Wolf, played by Vivica A. Fox, who got her big break in "Independence Day" as Will Smith's girlfriend, and is now a regular on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Trying to come up with a solution to a single woman's dilemma, Wolf decides to form a private club called Whatever She Wants, where men have to meet strict qualifications to be admitted, so that female members will not meet up with losers.

Her co-star is Malik Yoba.

I'm Ready Productions has presented plays before 1.5 million people in 50 cities.

Performances are at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at Gaillard Auditorium.

Tickets are $28.50-$34.50 and may be purchased online through Ticket-master at www.ticketmaster.com or at Gaillard Auditorium the evening of the play.

Backstage Pass at Sottile

The Backstage Pass at the Sottile, the new Charleston Symphony Orchestra series at the Sottile Theatre, opens Friday with a performance titled "First," to be conducted by Scott Terrell, CSO resident conductor.

The program will feature Piazzolla's "Tango," Golijov's "Last Round" and Ginasera's "Variaciones concertantes."

After preconcert cocktails, the performance will start at 7 p.m. Friday at the Sottile Theatre, 44 George St.

Tickets range from $15-$27 and are $5 for full-time students. They may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 554-6060, by visiting the Gaillard box office or online at www.charlestonsymphony.com.

CSU's Friday Fanfare

As part of the Friday Fanfare series, Charleston Southern University will present "Voices in America" at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lightsey Chapel Auditorium on the campus. The concert will feature the combined choirs of Bel Canto, the Concert Singers and the Singing Buccaneers presenting the music of choral composers David Brunner, Gwyneth Walker, Andre Thomas and Eric Whitacre. Admission is free, and donations will go to support the Justin Cope Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Reach Dottie Ashley at 937-5704 or dashley@postandcourier.com.

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