Aeneas

Aeneas was a prince and warrior during the Trojan War, who was eventually exiled with a small band of followers after The Fall of Troy. His journey across the world, and his eventual anchoring in what would become the Roman Empire, comprises Virgil’s Aeneid. Aeneas is also known for being saved from certain death several times by the Gods, who are tasked to preserve his crucial destiny.

Playwright Colin Johnson’s take will modernize and lighten up the myth. “My Aeneas is a simple, lovable doofus, a la Steve Martin in The Jerk. After weathering an ugly uprising at his Father’s business, he sets out to find a new job, a new life. Along the way, the two dogged guardian angels who are sworn to protect him from death grow indignant of their roles and begin to question their existence. Aeneas’ perilous, allegorical journey will take him through such adventures as a Mob-run daycare (Sicily from the legend), a rescued bunny rabbit farm presided over by a beautiful psycho-hottie (Dido, Carthage from the legend), an all-inclusive strip club called The Underworld (the Underworld from the legend) and an eccentric Coffee House (Latium from the legend), where he falls in love with the goregous Latti and competes for her affection, only to find what real heroism truly is…”

AENEAS, or BURDEN OF THE WITLESS by Colin Johnson
Directed by Colin Johnson
staged reading on Saturday, November 16, 2013

Ben Calabrese (Narrator/Hinkley Cottonswallow)

Danielle Doyle (Shiffy)

John Elison (Harry Aeneus/King Lattay)

Paul Jennings (Ensmeble)

Jordan Kersten (Ensemble)

Laura Peterson (Ensemble)

Brian Quakenbush (Olly Aeneus)

Jess Thomas (Mortimer)

Sam Tillis (Booner)

Kevin Wisney-Leonard (Ensemble)

Colin is thrilled to be back for his third year in a row with the Olympians Festival. Last year he developed the dark story of Hephaestus, and the year before he portrayed a political Chronus. Previous Bay Area credits include: Noises Off (Actors Ensemble of Berkeley, Director), The Oresteia (Round Belly theatre Company, Director), and Daomu, a comic book for Image Comics. He’s also produced, written, directed and performed in dozens of original shows for such entities as BattleStache Studios (co-founder, Artistic Director), Bay One Acts, First Person Singular, Pianofight’s Short Lived, Albany Film Fest and SF Fringe. He holds a degree in film and theatre production from Eastern Washington University and thinks you’re pretty.

The artwork of Aeneas was created by Chelsea Harper!