Anti-war reading in Stevenson on March 3

According to the Lysistrata Project organizers actors Kathryn Blume and Sharron Bower, "The readings comprise a theatrical act of dissent which has become the first-ever worldwide theater event for peace."

Written by ancient Greek dramatist Aristophanes (c. 447 - c. 385 b.c.e) Lysistrata tells the story of a group of women from opposing city-states who unite in Athens to end the Peloponnesian War by agreeing to withhold sex from their mates until the men find a way to achieve peace through diplomacy: in other words, make love not war.

Stevenson resident Rita Saling brought the Lysistrata Project to the attention of the community and is acting as director for this production which is sponsored by the Stevenson Community Library and Citizens United for Peace and Justice, an affiliate of Columbia River Fellowship for Peace.

According to Kim Antieau, spokesperson for Citizens United for Peace and Justice, the Lysistrata Project has several goals.

"We want to let the Bush Administration know that there is a growing opposition to the war on Iraq," Antieau said. "We also want to provide an evening of fun for the community while raising public awareness about opposition to war. Plus we're asking what can we do on a local level to stop 'diplomacy by violence' in our world."

Antieau wanted to emphasize that Lysistrata is meant for mature audiences. "It is a very bawdy play," Antieau said. "Our idea is to get people laughing about the suggestive content of the play in the hopes that they'll then realize it's really war that is obscene. But we do want people to be aware that the play is meant for adults and probably not appropriate for children. We hope it will be a fun, inspiring, and informative evening for adults."

A public forum will take place after the play with Skamania County Commissioner Bob Talent acting as moderator.

Drue Robinson Hagan, author of Aristophanes' Lysistrata: A Woman's Translation, the translation of Lysistrata being used in Stevenson, is from Bellingham and was born in Ellensburg.

Information about the international Lysistrata Project is available at www.lysistrataproject.com.