Amphitryon
Amphitryon (Amphitruo) Author: Titus Maccius Plautus
First Performance: 215-185 BC, Rome
First English Translation: 1694
Genre: Latin com. in verse
Setting: Before the home of Amphitryon, Thebes, mythical past
Cast: 5m, 2f, extras
In a prologue, Mercury reveals that his father Jupiter has fallen in love with Alcmena (Alcumena), whose husband Amphitryon (Amphitruo) is away in the wars as commander of the Theban army. In order to seduce the faithful Alcmena, Jupiter has assumed the form of Amphitryon and is at that very moment enjoying her body. Mercury has himself taken on the likeness of Amphitryon's servant Sosia. When the real Sosia arrives to announce that the victorious Amphitryon will return home shortly, he is thrown into confusion on encountering his mirror image (the disguised Mercury) and rushes off....
[The entire page is 436 words long]
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