Joseph Costa as Knemon in THE GROUCH. Photo © Gerry Goodstein.

-Aristotle of Byzantium

"For what other reason would an educated man go to the theatre except to see Menander?"

-Plutarch

"There is no play by Menander that is without love."

-Ovid

These quotes represent the wide critical acclaim that this ancient Greek playwright garnered at the peak of his posthumous popularity. Terrance and Plautus are known to have stolen so many characters and plots from Menander that he could be considered the grandfather of Roman Comedy. Origins of characters and plot lines from commedia dell'arte, Molière and even Shakespeare can be found in the works of this oft-forgotten drowning victim from Athens. During his lifetime (342 b.c. - 292 b.c.), Menander wrote more than 100 of the approximately 1,400 plays that are categorized as "New Comedies" of the ancient world. Of the all the New Comedies from the 64 known playwrights of his time, Menander's Dyskolos (The Grouch) is the only complete extant play, rediscovered in a private library in Geneva, Switzerland in 1957. While scholars have salivated over this papyrus, the play has remained largely an undiscovered theatre treasure.

Why is this play so seldom produced? In addition to the fact that comedies from 317 b.c. are no longer the rage, there are very few adequate venues in which a play of this style can appropriately breathe. Menander, the originator of "the well-made play," constructed this story for an outdoor amphitheatre of dimensions similar to the College of Saint Elizabeth's Greek Theatre. Bold actions, larger-than-life characters and choral interludes are the norm for this style of play; clearly, New Comedy was not written for elite or intimate performance spaces. The Grouch belongs in this amphitheatre as much as love belongs in people's hearts. Excavating an ancient play such as this and discovering a new way to present it reminds me of how immensely magical the theatre truly is. As you recline in this magnificent space, enjoy your picnics and watch this pastoral morality tale unfold around you, please know that your presence and participation are hugely appreciated as you help us breathe new life into this seldom-performed yet strangely familiar tale.

- Jason King Jones