Characters
Akhenaten—pharaoh of Egypt, plainly dressed, preferably played by woman
Chorus:
Nefertiti—wife of Akhenaten, dressed minimally fine
Horemheb—Commander of Egyptian Army, dressed regally
Tutankhaten—son-in-law of Akhenaten, dressed plainly well
Scene:
A darkened chamber of the temple of Aten. There is only a single yellow light from above, illuminating center stage. Akhenaten kneels in this light, his head turned to the sky and his hands on the ground, as if he is starting a race, but cannot help but be distracted by the light.
The Chorus of Nefertiti, Tutankhaten, and Horemheb enter through the Pardos, Nefertiti and Tutankhaten right, Horemheb left.
Chorus: (Chanting as they enter, circling Akhenaten)
Egypt is broken and
Aten has failed us, but
Our King still seeks him in
Love and ambition. He
Destroyed the icons of
Amun and others, for
They had afflicted this
King with a virulent
Disfiguration. Since
Birth, they foretold of his
Dreams and his Nightmarish
Treasons on Amon, now
Egypt will see itself
Falling from madness. An
Empire breaks from him.
Akhenaten: (screaming) ATEN!
The chorus stops. Nefertiti Stands behind him, Tutankhamen to the right, Horemheb to the left.
(pause)
Akhenaten: (distraught) You have brought nothing but beauty here.
Why do they curse you? Do they not know
What I see Amon has cursed us with—
Hate—and, I, Ra’s hand in human kind,
Bear the true malady Amon is.
Nefertiti: You are the beauty here.
Horemheb: God has no righteousness.
Tutankhaten: Knowledge has fated us.
Akhenaten: Ra is the God—I am always true.
Chorus: (circling Akhenaten)
Egypt has lost its God.
No one knows Truth but you
Distant despotic one—
Rise, so they know him, you.
Chorus stops, Horemheb behind Akhenaten, Tutankhamen L, Nefertiti R.
Akhenaten: I am not Amon! There is no God!
No God but Aten…(suddenly religious) the merciful…
You who come here and make Amon the
Truth, you are wrong! You are not welcome
In the light Aten provides us with!
Horemheb: Hittites are coming here!
Nefertiti: Leave him alone with God!
Tutankhaten: We bear the mark of him!
Akhenaten: Words of mine—fill your heart sorrowfully.
Chorus: (circling)
Deeds of the King: they know
No limit. If we do
Nothing, the King will hold
Madness above the peace!
Chorus stops, Tutankhaten behind Akhenaten, Horemheb L, Nefirtiti R.
Akhenaten: Oh, but believers of mine—hear not
False accusations against me—God
Says I do no wrong in His light, no—
Aten says nothing now—I must speak
In his words, so the true people hear:
What does God suffer that he says naught?
Tutakhaten: People are suffering!
Nefertiti: Then they should feast on love!
Horemheb: Love is no substitute.
Akhenaten: There is a pathway for love to live
Beyond the cages we keep it in.
Chorus: Nonsense!
Akhenaten: Amon!
Chorus: Heretic!
Akhenaten: Aten!
The Chorus leaves Akhenaten, who holds his hands to the sky.
Akhenaten: (to Chorus)
Who makes the grass grow?
Chorus: Aten!
Akhenaten: Who makes the sky blue?
Chorus: Aten!
Akhenaten: Who gives Egypt warmth!
Chorus: Aten!
Akhenaten: Aten!
Chorus: Aten!
Akhenaten: Aten!
Chorus: Aten!
The Chorus passes by Akhenaten to the other side of the stage.
Akhenaten: Who makes the poor starve?
Chorus: Amon!
Akhenaten: Who makes the priests lie?
Chorus: Amon!
Akhenaten: Who kills the humans?
Chorus: Amon!
Akhenaten: Amon!
Chorus: Amon!
Akhenaten: Amon!
Chorus: Amon!
Akhenaten falls to his knees, prostrating towards the crowd. The Chorus runs to him, and lifts him up by his hands and his feet. The Chorus circles, holding Akhenaten between them.
Chorus: Pharaoh has fainted, the
Weight of the truth strained him.
Amon has claimed his fee.
Aton, forever, thee.
The Chorus places Akhenaten on the ground in a sitting posture, though Akhenaten is slumped over his knees. The Chorus lies on their backs around Akhenaten, in a similar configuration as when the first circled him.
Akhenaten: (sobbing) Why does no one see the beauty, Aten?
(Standing)
Why does no one love themselves as I do?
(Pause)
Why do they not see the Aton like me?
Chorus: No one knows the truth.
Akhenaten: Aton is my leader.
Chorus: Children starve to death
Akhenaten: Amon is to blame here.
Chorus: Man is but a pest.
Akhenaten: No!
Man is God’s endowed creation!
Chorus: Man now starves
No God can fix.
Akhenaten lets out a piercing scream and drops to his knees. The Chorus stands and scatters.
Exit Chorus.
Akhenaten: Why am I so hobbled
That I must bear the weight, alone,
To fix the kingdom others hollowed
For gold and self—I must atone!
Enter Chorus, singing.
Chorus:
All of this impermanence
Could by your hands be fixed.
Just lift them for the good in man
And not the colors of a clan.
Akhenaten has stood, and the Chorus surrounds him.
Akhenaten: Aten—do you hear me?
Chorus: The voice of God is lost.
Akhenaten: I am your servant, forever.
Chorus: The ego has a cost.
Akhenaten: Aten—forgive me for my birth name.
Chorus: Born named Amen, Aten now seeks a cause.
Akhenaten falls to his knees, folding his hands in prayer.
Akhenaten: Amon—I am a slave to thee.
Chorus, defeated, walks to the left of the stage. They whisper among themselves.
Nefertiti: Something must be done!
Horemheb: I cannot raze my king!
Tutankhaten: This bastard gives his name to me!
Chorus: People have to see!
Akhenaten: (praying) Aten, give me strength.
Fill me with your freedoms.
Those across the oceans kill in
Egypt’s name—and teach them.
Show them they are worthy.
Show them they are free.
I feel not a growing love
If they don’t honor thee.
(pause)
Nefertiti—are you there?
Nefertiti: Yes, my king.
Akhenaten: Who makes the grass grow?
Nefertiti: Aten, my dear.
Akhenaten: Who makes the birds call?
Nefertiti: …Aten, my king.
Akhenaten: Why do they hate me?
Nefertiti, taken aback, stands.
Akhenaten: Why, Nefertiti?
Nefertiti: I…
(pause)
(With strength) Aten, my dear.
Akhenaten is taken aback.
Akhenaten: Aten? But why?
Nefertiti: No one protects them.
Akhenaten: (standing, angrily) But who makes the birds fly?
Nefertiti: (meekly) Aten…
Akhenaten moves towards Nefertiti
Akhenaten: And who makes the grass grow?
Nefertiti: (feeling threatened) Aten…
Akhenaten: And who is your master?
Nefertiti and Akhenaten stand face-to-face.
Nefertiti: (On the verge of tears) You.
Akhenaten slaps her.
(pause)
Akhenaten: (coolly) Aten.
Nefertiti runs off
Exit Nefertiti
Akhenaten: Aten—now we can be alone.
Tutankhaten and Horemheb shake their heads in disgrace.
Exit Tutankhaten and Horemheb.
Akhenaten: As your morals pass down to me
Through the strength of your warm breeze
I shall give to Egypt thee
And save my bed from villany.
Enter Chorus, circling Akhenaten
Chorus: Egypt, falling, no God
Stopping. Aten—Amon—
Are we blinded?
Pharaoh, dying, takes us
Lying down to futures
Stated and forsaken—
But passed on through
Generations. Morals
Guiding Lives in hiding,
Madness strikes oppression
Like the King of Aten
Fights the Gods for no one
To know himself
Infinitely.
(pause)
We now must know.
END OF PLAY
Taleless Cats Ltd. 