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MC MytholOG - Midas, Medea, Jonah*, ATOWT, Last Gasp, Homeric, Icarus, Murph*, Herc, Orpheus, Dayz*
MC MytholOG - Midas, Medea, Jonah*, ATOWT, Last Gasp, Homeric, Icarus, Murph*, Herc, Orpheus, Dayz*
MC MytholOG is a podcast featuring minimalist productions of original plays by MC, drawn mostly from Greek mythology. The first plays were Midas and Medea, followed by works such as Jonah, As the Olympian World Turns, and Last Gasp. Later episodes include MC's Homeric Cycle, Icarus, Murph!, An Apocalyptic Apotheosis, Orpheus, and the modern Skool Dayz. MC voices most roles, except for cameos and crowdcasts, and the show notes mention that a few selections are not strictly Greek in origin.
Episodes
Cassandra! Prologue
The prologue to Cassandra! wherein the god Apollo, in a sketchy quid pro quo, gives the accursed gift of prophecy to the innocent, lovely Cassandra.
Cassandra! Epilogue
Those Gossips, again!MC version of the Epilogue to emulate.
Cassandra! Anteprologue
MC's quick version, just begging to be emulated.
A Brief Ode (and Shanty) to George Washington
The title says it all. Inspired by a bit of research and by Nathan Evans shanty The Wellerman, this touches on aspects of the father of our country during the American Revolution and imagines what a shanty might sound like for the cause. Enjoy - it is brief, but IMHO of course, catchy!
Accursed Philoctetes: Part II (Acts III & IV)
For those who need neither the entire play nor the discrete Acts of Accursed Philoctetes, here are Parts I & II. Part I addresses events which lead to the abadonment of Philoctetes on Lemnos. Part II the fraught return of the Greeks to retrieve Philoctetes and the bow. Enjoy these iterations of Accursed Philoctetes.
Accursed Philoctetes: Part I (Acts I & II)
For those desiring neither the whole play nor the discrete Acts of Accursed Philoctetes. ..Part I of Accursed Philoctetes addresses only how and why the Greeks abandon the keeper of the great bow of Hercules. Part II takes up the return of the Greeks and the resolution thereof. Enjoy this iteration of Accursed Philoctetes.
Accursed Philoctetes: Full play
This is the full, extended version of Accursed Philoctetes.How and why you may ask could there be a full play about a spinoff story from the Trojan War Cycle? How and why would you find this myth about a middling Greek hero whose fame/notoriety is due to the stench from an infected foot worthy of your or anyone else's attention? Philoctetes is not exactly heroic, more of a victim, and he whines al
Accursed Philoctetes: Act IV
In this final episode of Accursed Philoctetes, the son of Achilles, Neoptolemus, attempts to regain the lost trust of Philoctetes and thereby help the desperate Greek cause. Will Phil listen or has he been burned too much to be reasonable, much less rational? Is there really a cure for what ails Philoctetes?Physically? Psychically?Speaking of sanity, what advice does the bow of Hercules offer Phil
Accursed Philoctetes: Act III
A statement and some questions.FOMO is real. But often buried beneath that fear is the hope of inclusion or even a do over. In this episode of Accursed Philoctetes the Greek heroes Odysseus and Diomedes, who abandoned Philoctetes years ago, return to the isolated cave where he had previously sequestered himself. What kind of a reception will he give them?Does he still have his sanity intact?Afte
Accursed Philoctetes: Act II
In this episode of Accursed Philoctetes, two great Greeks, Odysseus and Diomedes, heroes in their own right even before they reach Troy, must make the difficult decision to bring nasty Philoctetes along or not. Without driving their crews to mutiny. Without getting shot themselves by Philoctetes. With or without the legendary bow of Hercules. With or without Philoctetes’s permission. With or witho
Accursed Philoctetes: Act I
This is the first episode of Accursed Philoctetes, an updated myth from the Trojan War cycle. In Act I, a famous Greek archer, Philoctetes, gets bitten by a snake - sent by Hera - on the island of Lemnos as the Greek army is heading to Troy to avenge the dishonor done to one of their own. The snakebit gets infected and fetid and completely incapitates him and unsettles his fellow sailors to the po
Midas: All
This is the full podcast of Midas, A Folly in Two Acts & an Epilogue, which was previously dropped as discrete episodes but is available now in its shimmering entirety! Everyone thinks they know the story of Midas and the Golden Touch, some even know the concomitant story of Midas and the Donkey Ears, but there is even more to know about this foollish king of Phrygia than those two stories.Wh
The Ides of March Revue
This is a brief, light-hearted presentation by two narrators and an ad hoc chorus on the Ides of March, explaining some of the background of this infamous date in history. Enjoy. A little foolishness is good for the soul.
Skool Dayz: Act II All
Inspired by Eugene Ionesco’s Rhinoceros, an absurdist play about the invasion by a crash of rhinos (read: fascism), my Skool Dayz is an absurdist tragicomedy about teachers and students getting distracted by all sorts of things, effectively putting blinders on to a real threat, in this case, an armed intruder (or two) in the school.
Dayz opens with a faculty meeting wherein administrators head a w
Skool Dayz: Act I All
Inspired by Eugene Ionesco’s Rhinoceros, an absurdist play about the invasion of a population of rhinos (read: fascism), my Skool Daze is an absurdist tragicomedy about teachers and students getting distracted by all sorts of things, effectively putting blinders on to a real threat, in this case, an armed intruder (or two) in the school.
Daze opens with a faculty meeting wherein administrators hea
Liz Rant - the new and improved excerpt from Skool Dayz
This is the updated version of the excerpt, Liz Rant, from Skool Daze, a non-mythology play by MC.How new and improved? Well, we have two mystery cameos giving much improved voice to Liz and Kendra (instead of yours truly laboring mightily)! Perhaps you know them...The scene set up: during an important faculty workshop on school intruder preparedness, the very earnest Kendra and her rather edgier
A brief introduction to MC MytholOG
Answers what is this podcast exactly and who is this MC?
Liz Rant
Excerpt from a non-myth play, Skool Daze, what I call Liz Rant.
During a faculty workshop on intruder preparedness, a goodie two shoes teacher, Kendra, and her edgier colleague, Liz, mix it up , but basically Liz just rashes on K.
Enjoy. It's a teacher thing?
The Song of Orpheus: Full Play
For those who need to binge and are not content to listen to The Song of Orpheus in installments, we’ve added a podcast of the full play, shortened by some aggressive editing, especially of Orpheus’s damned rhyming!
So, binge away if so moved!
MC
The Song of Orpheus: Act IV
In this episode, Act IV of The Song of Orpheus, we leave the kingdom of Hades for the upper airs, but there is much unfinished business still to sort out.
In answer to your questions - no, Orpheus does not try a third time to bring back his beloved Eurydice. That door has closed.
And yes, Virginia, it is true, Orpheus is a hot mess without the love of his life, and yet, despite his sad disarray,
The Song of Orpheus: Act III
Like the previous episode of Act II, this episode, Act III of The Song of Orpheus has entertainment aplenty, but of a different sort, as the scene shifts from mortal Thrace to immortal Hades. Here of course there are many of the characters you’ve come to know and love down below: the Dark Lord himself and his consort, Persephone, Cerberus the three-headed hound, Charon the boatman, the Three Judge
The Song of Orpheus: Act II
In this episode, Act II of The Song of Orpheus, there is much ado - dancing and music, salty musicians, one with an unexpected Liverpudlian accent, a couple of dancers who seem to have left their virtue and veils at home, an impertinent attendant or two, not to mention, most importantly, the exceedingly stressed (due to a premonition of disaster) father of Orpheus and his invaluable aide overseein
The Song of Orpheus: Act I
In this first episode of the Song of Orpheus, two very, if not excessively, devoted fans, old Lucius and younger Melanippus, attend an outdoor concert where the legendary Orpheus musicus plays his magic and, more importantly, meets the Eurydice of his dreams.
An Apocalyptic Apotheosis
In this episode, the short comedy, an Apocalyptic Apotheosis, better known as the Herc play, our beloved Olympians, upon the news of Hercules’s incineration, have a spirited conversation about the pluses and minuses of Zeus’s desire to grant his son, not by Hera, immortality. This could include a throne on Olympus and that unnerves many, as it would upset the divine status quo. But as always, thi
Herc Play Three Bloops
Three revealing bloopers from Herc Play, with short set-ups to scenes.
An Unbelievable Murphy Tale
This is an unbelievable tale about a young boy, Billy, and a retired old horse, Murphy, during a dangerous snowstorm.
Billy's younger sister, Addie, has broken her leg falling through some lake ice. Billy, and his father and uncle, must get her to safety as quickly as possible, but where is safety in a blizzard of epic proportions? And what does any of this have to do with the unbelievable Murphy?
Icarus: Act V Updated*
In this new and improved version of Act V, Sir Brett Ewer takes on the role of mighty Minos, playing the King of Crete with authority. The story line remains the same, viz.,
This final episode of Icarus, Son of Daedalus is the aftermath to the fall of Icarus - Act V and an Epilogue.
No, Daedalus does not fall, but what does he do after his son’s demise? Does he fly on?
Although he grieves for
Icarus: Act IV
Spoiler alert: Icarus dies!
This is the episode we all know and love (?). With time on their hands in the tower of Crete, Icarus and Daedalus assess their situation and try to figure a way to escape their confinement. Inspiration comes at last, and, despite a few hiccups and some friction between father and son during the process, they make extensive preparations to fly the coop on wings of their
Icarus: Act III
In this episode of Icarus, son of Daedalus, we hear of the consequences of defying King Minos. In Act III Daedalus gets thrown in the maze for his instrumental help satisfying Queen Pasiphae's abnormal desire for the bull from the sea. Icarus, in an unusual fit of loyalty, dutifully joins his father in the maze. Meanwhile, her desire slaked, Queen Pasiphae herself defies Minos and helps fath
Icarus: Act II
In this episode of Icarus, son of Daedalus, you’ll hear more backstory as to what led to Icarus and Daedalus being imprisoned in the tower by king Minos. At this point the young Icarus is no longer obsessed with Pasiphae, which is a relief to all, yet he is not quite grounded and is now all hot and bothered for Doula, the maidservant who helped him get over the Queen.
Pasiphae’s obsessi
Icarus, son of Daedalus: Act I
Everyone has heard about the fall of Icarus, right? The poster boy for adolescent heedlessness? But what do we really know about the young man beyond his fall?
This episode of Icarus, son of Daedalus explores the backstory by covering the difficult youth of Icarus on the island Crete, where his father Daedalus is a virtual prisoner of the powerful King Minos, and his close and fraught relationship
MC's Homeric Cycle: Episodes 1-4
This is just the previously released four episodes of MC's Homeric Cycle combined into one episode for your listening convenience.
In these podcasts, you’ll hear the Homeric cycle in a generally linear, episodic, but decidedly non-academic and at times rather breezy version of Homer’s epic saga, as if MC were a Greek rhapsode narrating it to you around a campfire outside the classroom, sort
MC's Homeric Cycle: Episode 4, the last in the series.
This episode highlights events outside of the scope of the Iliad but which are definitely within the Homeric cycle. First and foremost, Achilles’s death must follow hard on the heels, as it were, of Hector’s. But then also questions you may have about the various other participants: Menelaus, Agamemnon, Philoctetes, Diomedes, Helen, Paris, Priam, Hecuba, Cassandra, Criseis & Briseis. Not to me
MC's Homeric Cycle: Episode 3
Much of this episode hews to the story line of the Iliad, meaning the focus is on the latter stages of the rage of Achilles and its tragic consequences but ultimately also its glorious aftermath. Patrokles and Hector are key elements but an outraged river also makes an appearance? The destructive nature of excess and the paramount importance of honor pulse throughout this episode. Harrowing or sat
MC's Homeric Cycle: Episode 2
As promised previously in Episode 1, hear the Homeric cycle in a generally linear, episodic but decidedly non-academic and at times rather breezy and sometimes risqué version of Homer’s epic story.
As advertised, Episode 1 told of the Golden Apple of Discord, the Judgment of Paris, Helen of Sparta and the enlistment of Achilles and Odysseus into the Greek war effort.
As anticipated, Episode 2 move
MC's Homeric Cycle: Episode 1 in a series
Greek mythology is strange stuff. No less so in the works of Homer, but much of it is inaccessible because it's written in Greek after all! But you may still be curious about the Trojan War, the Iliad, the Odyssey and Homer and all the strange doings and characters therein - Achilles, Cassandra, Penelope, Ajax, Diomedes, Odysseus, Thetis, Eris, Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, just to name a few?
In th
Last Gasp, or Gigantomachia: Full Play
Everyone has heard of the modern Olympics and all the drama therein. Well, before all that, there was Mount Olympus of course, home to the classical Greek gods and goddesses. Everyone's heard of Zeus, the most powerful of the Olympians, and of Athena, the wisest of the gods, and perhaps some others, but you've probably not heard them quite like this.
At any rate, in this episode of Last Gasp
As the Olympian World Turns: The Rebellion, Act II
Act II continues the saga with the three rebels' returning from subduing almighty Zeus. As the gods and godesses are in the throes of determining who will rule Olympus in lieu of He Who Must Not Be Named, lo and behold, the god of thunder himself returns, and now that he is unbound, he is raging! Will the rebels get their comeuppance? Will Hades return? Will order ever be restored? Will Hephaestus
As the Olympian World Turns: The Rebellion: Full Play
You've all heard of the Olympics and all the drama therein. Well, before all that, there was Mount Olympus of course, home to the Greek gods and goddesses. You've probably heard of Zeus, the most powerful of the Olympians, and of Athena, the wisest of the gods, and perhaps some others. But how well do you really know the denizens of Olympus? Did you know the gods outnumber the goddesses? Well, tha
As the Olympian World Turns: The Rebellion: Intro & Act I
You've heard of the Olympics and all the drama therein. Well, before all that, there was Olympus of course. You've probably heard of Zeus, the most powerful of the Olympians, and of Athena, the wisest of the gods, and perhaps some others. But how well do you really know the denizens of Mount Olympus? Did you know the gods outnumber the goddesses? Well, that explains a lot, doesn't it? Did you know
Jonah Act V Updated
Act V has been updated with yet another cameo performance!
The set up, however, is as before. In this busy episode, Act V, the surreal, open ended conclusion to MC’s Jonah, our great prophet has begun in earnest his protest of the Lord’s sparing of the newly penitent Ninevites. For some reason, despite his reservations about choosing Jonah in the first place, the Lord shows pity on Jonah aga
Jonah Act IV
In this episode of Jonah, our hero (?), after repenting and being spat out ashore by the great fish, makes the arduous journey to Ninevah where he preaches as if his life depended on it. Meanwhile, with son in tow, his wife, Abigail (another cameo by the incomparable Jessica Childs) has also made the trek to demand an accounting for his behavior and a road map for their future together. Surprising
Jonah Act III
Granted there are other matters to consider these days (such as the scourge that has divided our country), but if you need a brief break, give an ear to MC's latest podcast - Jonah, Act III. Surreal as it is, this is the part of the book everyone knows: Jonah’s attempt to escape the Lord by hiding aboard a ship to Tarshish; the Lord’s targeted storm that flushes him out from belowdecks and f
Jonah Act II
In this episode the Lord catches up to Cain, now Jonah, and speaks sense to him, making Jonah an offer he should not refuse - a quid pro quo of tat removal for a preaching stint in distant Nineveh. Jonah deliberates with himself, his wife Abigail, son Enoch, and best friend Nathan, before rashly deciding to head to Joppa for a fast boat to Tarshish, presumably beyond the Lord's reach.
Jonah Act I
And now for something completely different? We have all heard of the story Jonah and the Whale, even if only throught Disney via Pinochio. But what do we really know of this minor prophet of the Old Testament? Well, my Jonah is a Pythonesque take on the book of the Bible in which the epon is a repeat offending sinner, a bit like Midas but a very different animal altogether. I have hewn to the gene
Medea Act V
In this culminating episode of Medea, Jason must face the full force of his wife Medea's rage over his imprudent desire to marry the princess Glauke of Corinth and abandon the woman who had helped him succeed in his quote unquote heroic quest for the Golden Fleece. The end is not pretty but that is the point as Medea yet again shatters the norms of behavior expected of women in the classical world
Medea Act IV
In this episode our power couple hits some bumps in the road. Through Medea's magic cauldron sleight of hand, Jason and Medea ascend the throne that Pelias had previously promised and that was rightfully Jason's, but the townspeople drive them out because of the suspicious circumstances of their accession to the throne. Pariahs again, Jason and Medea approach Corinth where it appears their hard ti
Medea Act III
Having finessed their escape from King Aeetes, Jason and Medea return to Jason's home with the object of their quest in hand - the golden fleece! Jason's wicked stepfather, the usurping King Pelias, had promised the kingdom for the fleece. Will he honor his promise to cede the throne to Jason (and Medea)? If he does not honor that promise - and he won't of course because he's one of those really w
Medea Act II
Again with Medea's magic, Jason and Medea steal the fleece from the serpent that guarded it for Aeetes. Furious at having been betrayed again by his own daughter, Aeetes and his armada set off in pursuit of the Argo and the stolen talisman. Ethnocentrically, the Argonauts thought their ship was the fastest ever, yet Aeetes's boats are poised to overtake them. Things do not look good for our newly
Midas - Act I
Everyone knows the cautionary tale of Midas and the golden touch, Act I, but this Midas has the backstory as well – what the king had done to earn his foolish wish for the proverbial touch. In Midas's celebrated rose garden two laborers stumble upon the passed out body of the old satyr Silenus and take him to their king, Midas, in hopes of a reward. Midas offers Silenus a place to stay as he dries
Medea - Act I
Most everyone these days has heard of Tyler Perry's Madea, right, but not necessarily of Medea, niece of Circe? Well, believe it or not, the source for this formidable character (read: badass) is the Colchidean witch, Medea, who herself has no equal in the canon of classical mythology. This might explain her enduring appeal for MC and others across the millennia. In this episode, Medea: -Act
Midas - Epilogue / Act III
How will Midas handle himself in the afterlife, having made a mess of his mortal one with his acts of folly? Hear what the judges in Hades think of this inveterate fool. Hearken to their final judgment where the little king of Phrygia will spend his eternity. Lend MC your ears now and find out the final disposition of king Midas.
Midas - Act II Scene iv
In this scene our poor Midas is utterly devastated by the public expose of his donkey ears. The Fool tries to help him out of his funk, but to no avail as Midas cannot see a way out of his humiliation and commits yet another foolish act. Thus ends Act II in a dark place, leavened only by the subsequent (and forthcoming) Epilogue, of which there is a teaser in Midas Outtakes.
Midas - Act II, Scenes i - iii
As if the golden touch weren't enough to scare Midas from his foolish ways, Act II - the lesser known part of the Midas myth - sees our foolish king committing another act of folly, second guessing the gods' judgment in a musical competition. For this he gets another punishment - donkey ears (Lord, what fools these mortals be!) How will Midas take his punishment, and will the consequences of his s
Outtakes - Orpheus, OWD, Atalanta, Perseus, Medea, Saturnalia, TR, Midas, et al.
Selections from other MC plays:
The prologue to Orpheus and an excerpt of Dionysus's maenads "confronting" the grief-stricken Orpheus.
Two versions of Atalanta's taunt to her suitors in Atalanta/Meleager as she runs circles around them before spearing the losers. Cameo by Jessica Childs.
Prologue to Perseus. Medusa's talking head sets the table so to speak.
In Atalanta/M
Midas - Act I, Scenes iv & v
As his reward for taking care of Silenus, his old mentor, the god Dionysus grants Midas his classically foolish wish, followed hard by the tragic fallout from the wish, that in turn followed by the subsequent unwish.
Midas - Act I, Scenes ii & iii
In which Midas's gardeners, still hoping for a reward, hand off the old satyr Silenus to King Midas, who is entertained by Silenus's stories and subsequently prepares to return the mentor of Dionysus, Silenus, to the god himself.
Midas - Prologues & Act I, Scene i
After two brief prologues, Dan and Georgie, two laborers of the famous King Midas, he of the golden touch, discover the body of an old satyr mysteriously passed out in Midas's royal rose garden. Hoping for a reward, they tie him up with vines and dump him on the back of a donkey to take him to the king himself.
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