Admetus
Admetus was an Argonaut. King of Pherae in Thessaly. Husband to Alcestis. Host with the most. “Famed for his hospitality and justice,” Admetus won the affection of the gods, including Apollo, demi-gods, including Herakles, along with friends, family, and servants. Admetus was the kind of guy who inspired others to do generous things for him, for he was kind and generous to them. Apollo yoked a lion and boar to a chariot on Admetus’ behalf, so Admetus could win the hand of his love, Alcestis. Apollo convinced the Fates to spare Admetus from an early death by finding another to take his place. Alcestis proved her love for Admetus by volunteering to be his tribute in death. And Herakles, hearing of Admetus’ loss, and remembering how kind and generous Admetus had been to him, a funny, thoughtful companion on the Argo, wrestled death to bring Alcestis back “to the light alive.” Husband and wife were reunited. There the myth ends. Happily. Ever. After?
In Jennifer’s play, TO THE LIGHT ALIVE, she’s interested in exploring the morning after Alcestis’ return, after the joyous reunion and tears of happiness. The next morning when you wake up with your spouse and the reality of the previous day’s events hit you. Thoughts begin to rattle around in your brain. Questions arise that perhaps you don’t want to ask. The fall out that follows the relief that follows the tragedy. All the small baggage in a marriage that you’ve successfully pushed down until a tragic incident forces them to the surface. Will this marriage ever be the same?
ADMETUS or TO THE LIGHT ALIVE by Jennifer Roberts
Directed by Steven Westdahl
Staged Reading on November 11, 2015
Jennifer Lynne Roberts is a Bay Area playwright, producer, associate artist with Wily West Productions, and past president of the Playwrights’ Center of San Francisco. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from California College of Arts. Her play, THE KILLING JAR, was a finalist for Dayton Playhouse’s FutureFest 2014. Her short plays, MARS ONE PROJECT (winner of the 2014 STUEY award for BEST SHORT PLAY) and MEET CLAUDIA were part of SUPERHEROES, a short play production with Wily West, and PHOTO DYNAMIC THERAPY premiered in Sheherezade 14, a co-production from PCSF and Wily West. Both SUPERHEROES and Sheherezade 14 received nominations for the Theatre Bay Area 2014 BEST ANTHOLOGY award. She was commissioned to write DEATH OF A RIVER IN ¾ TIME or the San Francisco Olympians Festival V: Monster Ball, November, 2014 and has since been commissioned to write TO THE LIGHT ALIVE for SF Olympians VI, and ELEMENTS OF BEING A MASCOT for All Terrain Theater’s Women in Solodarity. BEEKEEPER had its world premiere with Virago Theatre Company in 2011.