Pandora’s Box

-         Rosalind Vallance

(It is a classical story recreated in modern drama. It is written in beautiful verse. It tells us the story of how the inquisitive Pandora let loose the Troubles in the world and how life became bearable only with thee coming of Hope. The story is told by the chorus and its leader while the characters are only miming. Pandora, Epimetheus and Hermes are the characters. The action takes place in Pandora’s garden.)

The chorus enters the stage. There a re almost twelve persons in the chorus. The leader of the chorus also enters. They describe the bright and sunny world with happiness.  The children are happily dancing and enjoying their play. Pandora and Epimetheus are happily throwing their golden ball to each other.

Suddenly, a strong scent is smelt and a melodious sound is heard. Hermes, the messenger of Gods, arrives in a while. He has come from Mount Olympus where Zeus, the king of Gods, lives. He has been sent by Zeus. He is wearing silver sandal and has silver wings. He is greeted and welcomed by the chorus.

Hermes has carried down a mysterious box on the finger-tips of his right hand. The box is made of sandalwood. It has carved faces which smile curiously. The box has an amulet of gold on its lid. There are snakes guarding it. The box looks fearful and beautiful at the same time.

Nobody knows exactly what the box contains. The chorus think it is filled with ambrosia. Pandora is curious to know about the box, but Hermes gives her the signal of danger and flies away.  Epimetheus invites Pandora to play with him again, but she is fascinated by the beauty of the box. She doesn’t know what to do. Suddenly, a voice from inside the box lures her to open the lid and look inside.

Suddenly, Pandora opens the lid of the box after a short hesitation.  She immediately closes the lid again, but the Troubles have already escaped. They sting her all around. Epimetheus is angry at Pandora who is remorseful. When the Troubles come into the world, peace, innocence, love and pleasure are all gone away.

After a while, Pandora hears another voice calling her again from inside the box. The grief-stricken Pandora opens the lid of the box the second time. Thins time Hope enters the world. Only then Pandora, Epimetheus, and the Chorus are relieved.