About This Show
On July 21, 356 BCE a young man named Herostratus, in order to secure his immortal fame, burned down the great temple of Artemis at Ephesus. Completed in about 550 BCE, the Temple was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, along with the likes of the Pyramids. It was constructed mostly of marble and was twice as large as the Parthenon in Athens. For two centuries, the Temple drew tourists and pilgrims to Ephesus. Far from trying to conceal his crime, Herostratus claimed credit. He hungered for fame and believed that only an act of such destructive proportions would ensure that his name would never be forgotten. The authorities tried to sentence the vain young man to a life of obscurity by threatening to execute anyone who spoke his name.
On May 20, 2005 CE, The Theatre Cooperative opened it’s production of Forget Herostratus! — a satirical tragicomedy written by Grigory Gorin in Soviet Russia, and adapted for the Coop by Vladimir Zelevinsky. The play follows the machinations of Herostratus as he sells his memoirs, wins over the appreciation of the mob, and even seduces the Lady of Ephesus. Meanwhile, the upright Judge and an onlooker from the future engage in a seemingly vain attempt at justice — to erase Herostratus’ name from history.
Appropriate For Ages: 14+
