Joseph Schaedler
Minneapolis, MN
If you have interest in producing/discussing any of my works, here is my direct contact info: email: joe.schaedler@gmail.com | cell phone: 952.200.3630

Plays

by Joseph Schaedler

Political drama whose plot is rather like Mel Gibson’s “Braveheart” (semi-historical story of a subjected nation raising revolution against their imperial overlords), except that the leader is a woman in 62 AD Roman Britain & the emphasis is much more on dialogue than action.

The entire piece is written in Iambic Pentameter (though exclusively in modern English), so its effect actually quite resembles Macbeth.

Cast:
C SUETONIUS PAULINUS Roman Governor of Britain. Q PETILIUS CERIALIS Legate of the Legion IX Hispana. CN JULIUS AGRICOLA Military Tribune under Suetonius Paulinus. CATUS DECIANUS Roman Procurator of Britain. C JULIUS ALPINUS CLASSICIANUS Later Procurator of Britain. BOUDICCA Queen of the Iceni. GWENIVERE & GWENDOLYN Daughters of Boudicca. OWEN Uncle of Boudicca. MYRDDIN Grandfather of Boudicca. GAVIN Nobleman of the Iceni. Iceni Noblemen and Warriors. ARTHUR King of the Trinovantes. ECTOR Cousin to Arthur. DUNOBEL Trinovan Senator of Camulot. MORGANO Son of Togido, Catuvellan Nobleman of Londin. TOGIDO Father of Morgano, Catuvellan Nobleman of Londin. TASCOBAN Catuvellan Nobleman of Londin. Senators, Noblemen, Merchants, Townspeople, Tribesmen, Freedmen, Messengers, Heralds, Tribunes, Centurions, Officers, Soldiers and Warriors.
by Joseph Schaedler

Political drama depicting the dying days of the ancient Roman republic:

The Roman commons have grown so dissatisfied with economic stagnation, detached elites, and dysfunctional politics, that they're willing to exchange their political liberties for a redistributional tyrant.

The Roman elite are deadlocked between two parties:  An obstinately unresponsive ultra-conservative party in power, and a disorganized reform party whose leaders must repeatedly resort to unsuccessful revolutions for lack of constitutional social relief.

Catiline was the last reformer to unsuccessfully attempt such a coup d'etat (the next reformer, Julius Caesar, ultimately succeeding and ending the republic altogether).

This story details Catiline's failed revolt in 63 BC amidst such a volatile political atmosphere, wherein economic frustration is instigating the death of a democracy.  As such, it's a cautionary tale for present-day circumstances in many parts of the developed world.

The entire piece is written in Iambic Pentameter, so its effect quite resembles Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar' (for which it makes a suitable prequel).

Cast:
CICERO Consul. GUY ANTONY Consul. SILANUS Consul-elect. MURENA Consul-elect. CLODIUS Bodyguard to Cicero. CATILINE Conspirator against Rome. MANLIUS Conspirator against Rome. LENTULUS Conspirator against Rome. CETHEGUS Conspirator against Rome. STATILIUS Conspirator against Rome. CAEPARIUS Conspirator against Rome. GABINIUS Conspirator against Rome. CURIUS Conspirator against Rome. FULVIA Intimate to Curius. CRIX & GANNIX Envoys of the Allobrogian Gauls. VOLTURCIUS Messenger of the Conspirators. FLACCUS Praetor. POMPTINUS Praetor. CATULUS a Senator. DRUSUS a Senator. GUY PISO a Senator. ATTICUS Friend to Cicero. JULIUS CAESAR Praetor-elect. CATO People’s Tribune-elect, later People’s Tribune. MARCUS PETREIUS Military Tribune to Antony. METELLUS NEPOS People’s Tribune. Senators, Citizens, Conspirators, Merchants, Heralds, Messengers, Officers, Soldiers, Prison Wardens, Military Tribunes, Commoners, Gladiators and Servants