OENONE

Twelve years ago, I sent in a proposal to write a ten-minute script inspired by Oenone, Paris’s first wife. Here’s that original proposal (spoiler alert: I did set the play in middle school and the play would go on to be published in a collection for teens):

You know that feeling when you Facebook stalk your ex and you have to see them with the person they left you for and you know it’s showing up on everyone’s newsfeed and you get so angry that you predict and ultimately help to inspire a war? A seriously significant war with a lot of death and despair. No? Well, maybe that’s just Oenone then.

 The digital age is here and it’s redefining communication and as a result, relationships.  And while time rages on and new technologies are formed, some emotions can’t be programmed. The feeling of rejection is timeless. And it sucks. It sucked before the internet and it’ll suck after the internet takes over and turns those who haven’t become zombies into robots.

 I want to develop a modern retelling of the relationship between Oenone and Paris (and that bitch, Helen). What it feels like to be left for someone everyone considers more beautiful and important than you are by the one person who was supposed to be faithful and love you forever. And the public humiliation that follows when the truth gets out.

 I remember learning about the Trojan War in seventh grade. The prime of my awkward youth. I felt incredibly insecure about my looks at the time (rightfully so; my bangs were growing out, I had braces and the dorkiest glasses, and so on) and Tom P., the boy I thought I was in love with, had recently started to pursue a beautiful blond girl who had somehow managed to miss the trails and tribulations of puberty. And at the time, everything felt like the world in middle school. Every day brought new devastations. It was a war of its own right. So I connected to Oenone in a weird “sisterly solidarity” kind of way and immediately wanted to know more about her and help talk about her feelings when Paris left.

 So while I haven’t decided to place this tale in a middle school (though, I haven’t not NOT decided that either…) I would love the opportunity to set a story that captured some of that raw, young emotion into action.

Inspiration for the story: Oenone sure didn’t have it easy. Born a fountain nymph of Mount
Ida as the daughter of River Cebren, Oenone was best known as the first wife of Paris. You know, the guy who caused some real drama when he decided to take on a second “more beautiful” wife. But the two shared the occasional nice time too (well, as nice as things could be for the Greeks). Including welcoming their son, Corythus, Child aside though, when Paris abandoned his nymph it is said that she predicted the Trojan War and when he returned home bruised and broken in need of
mending, Oenone refused, leaving him to die on the mountain slopes. Then consumed by regret and grief, she ended her own life in a fiery passionate move by embracing his burning pyre, forever forcing their ashes together in the fire.  Quite the romantic comedy, right?

Characters:

Oenone: A fairly average middle school girl; she’s in that awkward young stage where you know she’ll grow up to be pretty but she’s not quite there yet and can be a bit self-conscious about it. The one thing she’s got going for her in this cruel world is a boyfriend. It allows her to pretend like she has a higher status.

Heather B: A bit more reserved; an easy target for harsh middle school words but someone who manages to maintain an earnest optimistic demeanor even while surrounded by angst. A true teacher’s pet longing to be accepted by her friends and frenemies.

Tiffany: Confident and effortlessly cool. A tech-savvy, pop culture gossip queen. Someone who somehow lucked out by never needing braces.