Aristophanes' play, Lysistrata, takes place toward the end of the Peloponnesian War and centers on the lives of the soldiers' wives. One woman, Lysistrata, under the impression that a man's libido is ultimately his driving force in life, comes up with an interesting peace solution: to deny their husbands sexual relations until they can settle on a peace agreement that will end the war. However, Lysistrata's strategy effectively creates even more war...

The Catholic University of America Speech and Drama Department presents Aristophanes' "The Clouds," translated by William Arrowsmith, directed by Leo Brady, choral interpretation by Josephine McGarry Callan, setting and lighting by James D. Waring, costumes by Joseph Lewis.

Originally adapted for the stage, Peter Meineck's revised translations achieve a level of fidelity appropriate for classroom use while managing to preserve the wit and energy that led The New Yorker to judge his Clouds ""The best Greek drama we've ever seen anywhere, "" and The Times Literary Supplement to describe his Wasps as ""Hugely enjoyable and very, very funny."" A general Introduction, introductions to the plays, and detailed notes on staging,...

Only eleven of his plays survive, and this volume contains Lysistrata, the hilariously bawdy anti-war fantasy; The Acharnians, a plea for peace set against the background of the long war with Sparta; and The Clouds, a satire on contmporary philosophy.