Readers Theater Play
The
Monster
in the
Maze
GREEK
An anc MYTH
ie
from G nt story
reece
Theseus is brave, but is he ANY
match for the dreaded Minotaur?
A Greek myth retold
by Barbara Pitts
art by Tony FOTI
Check It Out
as you read, Look for:
A Heroic Character
Theseus is a famous Greek
hero. Such heroes were
warriors of special strength,
courage, or ability. Look for
these traits in the story.
CHARACTERS
CHORUS MEMBERS 1, 2, 3, & 4 (CM1, CM2, CM3, CM4):
THESEUS [THEE-see-us]:
AEGEUS [ee-JEE-us]:
YOUTHS 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5:
ARIADNE [ayr-ee-AD-nee]:
MINOS [MY-nus]:
MESSENGER
SCENE 1
The steps of King Aegeus’S
Theseus: I must go, Father! Please,
palace in Athens
prepare a ship for me.
CM1: This is the city of Athens,
CM2: Though it causes him great
a beautiful city on the sea.
sorrow, Aegeus orders a ship
All Chorus: Athens! Best city
prepared for Theseus.
in Greece!
CM3: Its sails are black like death.
CM2: We are ruled by King Aegeus.
Theseus: Father, when I return,
He is a good ruler, but every nine
I will raise white sails, so you will
years, he shudders with fear.
know I have killed the monster.
CM3: We all shudder with fear.
Aegeus: You are the most important
You’ll find out why in a moment.
thing in the world to me, Theseus.
CM4: Luckily, Aegeus has a son,
If I see black sails, I will die of grief.
Theseus, who is known for his
Theseus: We’ll return with white
bravery.
sails, I promise.
CM1: Ah! Here he comes now.
All Chorus: Theseus, you are our
Theseus: Citizens, what is
only hope!
troubling you?
CM2: It is time again for the sacrifices.
INTRODUCTION
Aegeus: No! It is far too dangerous.
SCENE 3
Theseus: What sacrifices?
On board the ship, sailing
CM3: King Minos of Crete has a
toward the island of Crete
monster. They call it the Minotaur.
CM4: The seven girls and six boys
It’s half-bull, half-man, and it lives in
on board with Theseus are pale
the center of a huge, puzzling maze
and quiet.
called the Labyrinth.
Theseus: My friends, don’t be afraid!
All Chorus: No one can escape the
Youth 1: I admire your attitude, but
Labyrinth!
you do not know the horror you face.
CM4: Every nine years, we must
Theseus: The Minotaur is only a bull.
sacrifice seven boys and seven girls to
Youth 2: It has razor-sharp horns.
this monster, or evil King Minos will
Youth 3: It has torn apart many as
wage war against Athens.
strong as you.
Theseus: My father would never
Theseus: I will try to persuade King
This play is similar to those
negotiate with a madman.
Minos to stop this savage practice.
performed in ancient Greece—it
CM1: I wouldn’t be so sure.
Youth 4: What if you can’t?
has a chorus that comments on the
action. The chorus also describes
SCENE 2
Theseus: Then I will kill the
Minotaur, as I have killed many
the violent scenes, because the
Inside the palace of King Aegeus
monsters in the past.
Greeks believed that violence
Theseus: Father, is it true? Will you
Youth 5: Then what? You’ll be caught
should happen offstage. That’s a big
obey Minos and sacrifice Athenians?
in the Labyrinth. No one has ever
difference from the entertainment
Aegeus: I have no choice. Minos has
been able to find a way out of those
of today—but as you’ll see, these
a huge army—he could kill us all!
twisting paths.
old stories can be just as exciting
Theseus: Send me then. I will slay
Theseus: Hush, now. These
as modern blockbusters!
this monster.
thoughts are useless.

SCENE 4
King Minos’S palace in Crete
CM1: Guards march the 14 Athenian
youths to meet King Minos and his
you at dawn. It will be a treat to
feed you to my Minotaur.
SCENE 5
SCENE 6
The Labyrinth
CM2: Ariadne holds one end of the
string as Theseus disappears into
daughter, Ariadne.
Midnight in the prison
the Labyrinth, unrolling the ball
Ariadne: Father, why are these
CM1: That night, Theseus hears
of string as he goes.
Athenians here?
someone approach.
All Chorus: Courageous girl!
Minos: You are too young to
Theseus: Who is it?
Honorable boy!
remember, but we had Athenian
Ariadne: Shhhhh! I snuck past the
CM3: As Theseus wanders through
guests nine years ago too.
guards. The fools are sleeping.
the maze, he hears a terrifying sound.
Ariadne: Why?
Theseus: You disobeyed your father!
All Chorus: Roar!
Minos: To feed them to my Minotaur,
Ariadne: Lower your voice. If anyone
CM4: Theseus follows the sound.
of course!
finds me here, I will be sent to the
CM1: Soon, a wall appears in his path.
Ariadne (shocked): What? You are
Minotaur too.
Theseus has hit a dead end.
going to feed human beings to that
Theseus: Why are you taking
CM2: Desperately, he tries another
monster?
this risk?
path through the Labryinth.
Minos: It is not your concern. This is
Ariadne: I want to help end this
CM3: And another!
between me and the city of Athens.
terrible tradition. I have brought you
CM4: And another!
Ariadne: Father, have pity on these
a sword and a ball of string.
CM1: Finally, he reaches the center of
poor young people! Look how
Theseus: What? How will string help?
the maze. The hideous monster . . .
frightened they are.
Ariadne: I will hold one end at the
CM2: . . . is sleeping.
CM2: He ignores her and inspects the
entrance to the maze. You will hold
All Chorus: Snort! Growl! Snore!
youths.
the other end as you walk through it.
CM3: Just then, Ariadne appears.
Minos: What a nice, tender selection
Theseus: So after I kill the monster,
Theseus: Ariadne! Why are you here?
they’ve sent this time. Nine years ago
I can follow the string to find my
Ariadne: I want to help you. I tied
they were all runts.
way out.
the string to the entrance so we can
CM3: Theseus steps forward.
Ariadne: Yes, and then we will
follow it out.
Theseus: I beg you to show mercy.
rescue the others!
Theseus: Go back! It’s too dangerous!
If you do, you will be
CM4: The Minotaur awakens.
considered a great ruler.
CM1: The beast groans and
Minos: How dare you!
roars and makes all kinds of
Ariadne: Who are you? Why
horrifying, angry sounds.
are you so brave?
All Chorus (improvising
Theseus: I am the son of King
horrible sounds): ROAR!
Aegeus. Please make your father
GRRRRR! ARGH!
stop this terrible crime.
CM2: It lowers its sharp horns
Minos: Ariadne, go to your
toward Theseus, preparing
room! Do not set eyes on this
to charge. Theseus holds
young man again.
out his sword.
CM4: She leaves and Minos
CM3: The Minotaur charges,
yells to the group.
snapping Theseus’s sword
Minos: To prison with all of
in half.
you! The guards will come for
CM4: The Minotaur backs
up and charges again!
CM1: Theseus does not move.
Is our hero in shock?
CM2: No! Theseus dodges the beast
at the last moment.
CM3: The Minotaur’s head slams into
a wall. It falls to the ground, dazed.
CM4: One of its horns has cracked off.
Ariadne: Grab the horn, Theseus!
CM1: Theseus grabs the horn and
stabs the Minotaur. The beast dies.
All Chorus: Theseus has won!
Theseus AND Ariadne: Yes!
CM2: Ariadne and Theseus follow
the string out of the maze and free
the others. Fearing her father’s
anger, Ariadne leaves with the
Athenians.
SCENE 7
The island of Naxos
CM3: Theseus and Ariadne stop
on the island of Naxos to make
some repairs.
CM4: Danger! A ship approaches!
Ariadne: It is one of my father’s.
CM1: A messenger comes ashore.
CM2: Quick, hide!
Messenger: I bear a message
just as you will do in Athens.
CM2: King Aegeus sees the sails of
Theseus: You are a courageous
Theseus’s boat approach. They . . .
friend.
All Chorus: . . . are black!
Ariadne: Goodbye!
CM3: Aegeus believes his son has
SCENE 8
died. His old heart breaks.
CM4: Aegeus dies with tear-filled
OUTSIDE the palace in Athens
eyes, gazing out over the sea.
CM3: As Theseus sails home, the
CM1: For a month, Theseus mourns.
youths sing songs of celebration.
CM2: Finally, he comes out of the
CM4: But Theseus can’t stop
palace.
worrying about Ariadne.
Theseus: People of Athens,
What would become of her?
I pledge to protect and lead you.
CM1: Theseus cannot be cheered
The memory of my father will
up. In his sorrow, he forgets to
inspire me to be a great king.
honor a promise.
All Chorus: Hail, Theseus!
from King Minos. He promises
peace if his daughter is returned.
Ariadne: Could this be true?
Theseus: I don’t trust your father,
Ariadne.
Messenger: Minos is sick with
regret.
Ariadne: Theseus, I must go back.
Theseus: The voyage will be a sad
one without you to share the victory.
Ariadne: I have my own adventures
to live through. Would you flee from
your people? I will return and be a
brave, loving example for my people,
PROMPT
Writing About a Hero
What makes Theseus a hero? Find evidence in the
play that he has special strength, courage, and/
or ability. Look for things Theseus says and does,
as well as things that others say about him. Then
write a paragraph explaining what makes Theseus
a hero.