The Shield

As a soldier in the Trojan war, no matter what side you fought on, the more protection you had the better. Chest armor, shin guards, a helmet, and most definitely a shield, could save your life. But even the most heavily armored warriors could not protect themselves from the gods, who were especially invested in the outcome of the war. Deflect as many falling arrows with your shield as you want - if Athena wants you dead…you’re probably going to die.

In Meg O’Connor’s one act, you are welcomed into Dionysus’ home, where he is hosting a viewing party of the war. Athena and Apollo are there, and in between their petty arguments and name-calling, they are keeping score, a la Fantasy Football, of which god is winning. But is there any question of the outcome? And when death is the only outcome, does anyone really win? And will anyone ever try the Spicy Black Bean dip Dionysus been slaving over for eons to perfect???

THE SHIELD by Meg O’Connor
Directed by Charles Lewis III
staged reading on Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Melissa Clason (Stage Directions)

Scott Leonard (Dionysus)

Paul Rodrigues (Apollo)

Elena Ruggiero (Athena)

Meg O’Connor is so proud to return to the Olympians Festival for the fourth year in a row, twice as an actor, and twice as a playwright. She received her BA in Creative Writing with an emphasis in Playwriting, and a minor in music from the University of San Francisco. Her play In the Wings was included in Behind The Curtain: Three Backstage Comedies in March at the EXIT Theater. Her play Tethys, or In the Deep was included in last year’s Olympian’s Festival: Titans Vs. Olympians. She is a founding member of Inkblot Ensemble, with whom she developed and co-wrote Satellites, included in the 2011 furyFactory. Her play All’s Fair (co-written with Jess Thomas) was produced by Antistrophe Ensemble (now Inkblot) in 2009. Her short Shakespeare in Therapy was selected for DramSoc’s 2005 One Act Festival at University College Dublin, Ireland. She has received readings by USF’s College Players, and several of her shorts were selected for their Gill-O-Tine One Axe Festivals and The Other Plays. She has directed for SF Theater Pub, BOA, The Cutting Ball Theater, and USF College Players. She is also a member of Chinese Ballroom Comedy Improv, and a founding member of Polka Dot Robot, where she makes hand made goods for happy humans. Meg loves long days in the park, avoiding conflict, and her fiancee, Kevin. *Thanks to Cody Rishell for the artistic rendition of my face.

The piece of art for The Shield was created by Cody A. Rishell!