Salus is the goddess of safety and well-being of both the individual and the state. One of the most ancient Roman Goddesses, a temple was built in her honor in the 4th century on the Quirinal Hill, the highest hill in Rome, where she was celebrated/worshipped as protector of the Roman state.
“Because of her dual role as protector of both the individual and society,” writes Elizabeth Flanagan, “I saw this as an opportunity to delve into the notion of the greater good. What happens when Salus has to choose between the individual and society when she is responsible for both? Sounds like a common dilemma faced by superheroes when the world is on the brink of destruction. When there’s no time to think, when the fate of humanity depends on this split second decision, what will she do? Who will she save? My play, SALUS or WHO MADE ME GOD?, will capture exactly that moment in time when Salus, the superhero, makes such a decision. And like all good superhero stories, the space-time continuum is fluid, so that this split second decision, this moment in time, will play out over the duration of the play itself.”
SALUS by Elizabeth Flanagan
Directed by Megan Briggs
Staged Reading on October 20, 2017 at the EXIT Theatre
Amy Cook (Stanley the Narrator)
Sam Heft-Luthy (Archie)
Rebecca Hodges (Salus)
Elizabeth Flanagan’s plays have been produced by: San Francisco Theater Pub, Playwrights’ Center of San Francisco, All Terrain Theater, and Wily West Productions. She is a cofounder of Ex Nihilo Theater and currently serves on the board of the Playwrights’ Center of San Francisco. You can follow Elizabeth on twitter @writesinpublic.
The image of Salus was created by Cody A. Rishell.