Androcles and the Lion

December 14, 2020

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED  DUE TO THE CURRENT HEALTH CRISIS.

Set in ancient Rome during the early days of the creation of the Christian religion Androcles, a fugitive Christian tailor is on the run from his Roman persecutors. While hiding in the forest he comes upon a wild lion who approaches him with a wounded paw. His wife runs off. Androcles sees that the cause of the animal’s distress is a large thorn embedded in its paw, which he draws out while soothing the lion.  Androcles is captured and is sent to the Colosseum to be executed with other Christians in gladiatorial combat. They are joined by a new Christian convert called Ferrovius, who struggles to reconcile his Christian principles with his violent inclinations. The Roman captain guarding them is attracted to the Roman aristocrat, Lavinia, who is determined to examine what the concept of religion means to her along with everything she has been taught about male/female relationships and even the meaning of life! Eventually the Christians are sent into the arena, but Ferrovius kills all the gladiators before they can harm any Christians. The Christians are to be released, but the crowd demands blood. To satisfy them, Androcles offers himself to be savaged by lions. But the lion that is supposed to kill him turns out to be the one that Androcles saved, and the two dance around the arena to the delight of the crowd! Don’t miss this rare opportunity to share this remarkable and sparkling comedy, just in time for Christmas!

These script-in-hand all-star readings are always sold out.

Each month, Project Shaw brings you either one of Shaw’s scintillating plays or a play by those who shared his ‘art as activism’ view of life. This is the acclaimed staged reading series that has been playing to sold-out crowds for the last 15 years!

“Gingold Theatrical Group provides an invaluable — and unique — service to New Yorkers. Not only does it keep topnotch productions of great works of art before the public on a regular basis as no other theater company can, but it also does something less obvious. It keeps the tradition of intelligent argument, embodied in Shaw’s plays but otherwise much lacking from public discourse, alive for those who need it most: the thinking people of a great city.” — Jesse Green, New York Magazine.

For more information about Project Shaw, please visit the Gingold Theatrical Group website www.gingoldgroup.org