Stichus | |
---|---|
Written by | Plautus |
Based on | Adelphoe by Menander |
Date premiered | 200 BC |
Place premiered | Rome? |
Original language | Latin |
Genre | Roman comedy |
Setting | Athens |
Stichus is a comedic Latin play by the early Roman playwright Titus Maccius Plautus. According to a notice transmitted with the play, Stichus was first performed in 200 BC. The same notice informs us that it was adapted from the play Adelphoe by Menander. [1]
In Athens, the two daughters of wealthy Antipho, Panegyris and Pamphila, [2] are married to the brothers Epignomus and Pamphilippus. Due to mismanagement of their property, the two husbands became merchants to make money, and by the start of the play they have been away for more than two years. As no news has been received about their husbands' whereabouts, the women are urged by their father to remarry, but they refuse.
The slave boy Pinacium brings news to Panegyris that her husband Epignomus has returned. When Epignomus enters, his slave Stichus requests some time off for a home-coming party, which is granted. A short time later Pamphilippus enters, and Antipho requests him to give him a female slave, after which they become reconciled.
Part of the amusement of the comedy is in the attempts of the ever-hungry parasite Gelasimus to get an invitation to dinner; but he is continually rebuffed, first by the slaves Crocotium and Pinacium, then by Panegyris, and finally by both husbands.
The final scene is the celebration of Epignomus's slave Stichus to celebrate the homecoming. He and his friend Sagarinus/Sangarinus [3] celebrate with their shared mistress, Stephanium. The play ends with a dance.
The stage set shows three houses, those of Antipho, Panegyris/Epignomus, and Pamphila/Pamphilippus. The action takes place in the street in front of the houses.
The metrical scheme of the play is relatively simple. If A = iambic senarii, B = other metres, and C = trochaic septenarii, the scheme is as follows: [4]
Unusually, the play starts with a polymetric song rather than the usual iambic senarii, and similarly ends with a polymetric song, instead of the expected trochaic septenarii.
Overall, the plot is symmetrical and can be represented as follows:
The plot is managed in such a way that there are never more than three speaking characters on stage at the same time.