Hypatia of Alexandria
Sunday, June 21st, 2009Hypatia of Alexandria is the first play by Canadian writer, Skylar Smythe. Inspired by her research into the life of this renowned mathematician, philosopher and astronomer, Skylar brings to the stage a biographical insight into a woman who remains, to this day, one of history’s most eminent scholars.
Daughter of Theon, Hypatia came under scrutiny both for her decision to renounce sex and marriage in favour of academics and for her paganism in a time when Christians sought to eliminate pagan society from Alexandria. Hypatia was to meet a tragic and brutal end at the hands of a mob of Christian monks and her works disappeared in something of a futile attempt to erase her from history.
So moved and inspired by this historical scholar, Skylar embarked upon the writing of her first play, tackling the challenge of bringing Hypatia’s character to life for a remarkably wide and varying audience.
Just entering the early stages of production, Hypatia of Alexandria has, what you might call, ambitious plans. It will play to inhabitants of upwards of forty countries around the world. The lead role is in Australia, the writer and director in Canada and the cast from the USA and other countries! Oh, and it will play in a huge purpose built Greek theatre in the sky. Not exactly what you would call a typical play, I suppose.
This is because Hypatia of Alexandria is being produced and staged in the virtual world of Second Life™. Most of you, I am sure, will know of and use Second Life. But for those of you who stumbled upon this post off the back of an entirely unrelated Google search, Second Life is a virtual world in which all content is created by its users. Visit www.secondlife.com to find out more.
Second Life is becoming an increasingly respected platform for educating, for fostering the literary arts and as a means of access to the arts for those who might ordinarily have had no such access. After all, not everybody can afford frequent trips to the theatre in real life. And it isn’t just the audience who gain. It is incredibly difficult for previously unproduced stage writers to have work taken into production. Using this virtual world, Skylar is able to showcase her own original stage play to an international audience at absolutely minimal cost.
The play is an entirely original work, written largely in sonnet form and is a profound account of the life of a fascinating icon. Skylar does a remarkable job of personifying Hypatia on a feminine level and enabling the audience to relate to her.
I won’t offer too many spoilers. Instead I suggest that you make a date and go along to one of the showings. The play is sponsored by TLE Educational Network and as soon as dates are confirmed, you will find them right here! In the meantime, if you have any questions in regard to the play, feel free to drop an IM on Skylar Smythe in world.
