The happy couple.
Back in my bright college days, I was for the first 2 years, a music major. When my fellow wannabe musicians hung out on the quad on warm sunny days, we would plan projects that were going to make us famous. Symphonies were planned. Great achievements as conductors and composers were spun as glorious dreams, although I don’t know that my class actually produced anyone who really hit the big time. Medium time seems to be as good as we got.
But my dream, my great project, was a full musical comedy based on the story of Leda and the Swan. I thought Broadway because in those days, there were no computer generated graphics to make the impossible real on-screen. Now, I think perhaps Hollywood would be the correct venue for this masterpiece.
In the Greek myth of Leda and the Swan, Zeus, in the form of a swan, seduces, or rapes Leda. Which is never made entirely clear, but I vote for seduction since I have a lot of trouble visualizing getting raped by a swan. Even as Zeus, swans are not agile except in the water and their lack of hands and arms would seem to make rape difficult.
Regardless, Leda becomes pregnant by Zeus as swan. She bears Helen and Polydeuces, both children of Zeus in his swan modality. Simultaneously (I’d like to know how she manages this) she gives birth to Castor and Clytemnestra, children of her human husband Tyndareus, King of Sparta.
In the myth, Leda is able to convince her parents and husband her extra pregnancy was not the result of a lover. No, no! Honest to gods, really, no kidding, it was Zeus who did it. Not merely was it Zeus –not some guy — but he was in the form of a swan!
Hey, Zeus? Is that you?
My favorite scene would be the first act closer. In a highly emotional musical extravaganza, Leda pours out her distress in a heart-rending lyric soprano rich with passion. She explains — to hubby, mom and dad — it really truly was Zeus.
Leda: Even in the form of a swan, I knew it was Zeus. And you all know how much I love birds and feathers, right? I mean … what girl could resist such a gorgeous bird who is, after all, top God in the Pantheon? No kidding. I wouldn’t lie to you.
Tyndareus, King of Sparta: I want to believe you, but I’m having a few problems with this.
Leda: Trust me, dear. It was Zeus. He was disguised as a swan. You know how clever he can be.
Later, we all get to see the central event, Leda’s experience. In a carefully choreographed dream sequence, Leda relives the heady romance of the seduction. I’m assuming it was seduction rather than rape. I mean, how big was that swan anyhow? And, uh, some of the technical aspects of the experience make for interesting mental meanderings. How, exactly, did … well … Never mind. This is a G-rated site. Suffice to say it would make a heck of a scene. Now that CGI has come of age, with some well done special effects? Wow. This could have the audience on its feet!
There’s more. Depending on which version of the story you read, Leda either give birth to babies … or lays eggs. Lays eggs? Really?
Zeus and Leda?
Eggs open up a whole new world of possibilities. If she lays eggs, does she have to sit on them until they hatch? As Queen of Sparta, can she order her court attendants to sit on the eggs while she performs her royal duties?
Does she build a nest? In the palace? Do the hatchlings feel a compelling urge to dive into lakes and ponds? Are they born knowing how to swim? Or more to the point, paddle? Do they have webbed feet? How do they feel about feathers?
I no long feel up to writing a musical comedy, but I freely offer this amazing concept to anyone who feels inclined to flush it out. I think it might just launch more than one career. You think?
- Prompts for the Promptless – Ep. 11 – Remake! (rarasaur.wordpress.com)
- Leda and the Swan (davidallsopclassics.wordpress.com)
- Leda and the swan….. (womgdesigns.wordpress.com)
- Leda and The Swan (thesparkystarky.wordpress.com)
- W. B. Yeats – ‘Leda and the Swan’ (emilygostage.wordpress.com)
- Ancient Greek (vancecastiell.wordpress.com)
- Leda and the Swan (nojalesoteric.wordpress.com)
- Leda and the Swan (psicaptain.wordpress.com)
- Module 2: Zeus (ppccmyth1n1.wordpress.com)
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Categories: #animals, #Writing, Humor, Life, Love, Media, Movies, Music, Myths and Fables, Nature, Religion, Show Business
SERENDIPITY - SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 
Had a Canada Goose pal, the dominant male on the pond (which I’d watched daily for the better part of a year by that time), come sit with me to visit. We settled in, chatted a bit, and at one point he stretched his wings … and clobbered me. I cried “Ow!” and he ceased, but remained sitting, chatting. The power in those wings, as you know is enormous. And if you’ve ever watched waterfowl mating(in which the male comes from behind, grabs his beloved by the neck, plungers all but her most useful lady parts underwater, rape certainly seems possible. In fact, it seems to me that with water fowl, every encounter would qualify as “rape.” One could hardly call it “romance.”
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But Leda was purportedly human … which does change the equaltion, sort of. I think the little hussy asked for it!
On Sun, Sep 29, 2013 at 10:20 AM, SERENDIPITY
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Hilarious, life-affirming and beautifully expressed. Thank you for brightening up my morning. x
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Want to collaborate? I still think it could be a hit 🙂
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Hey, what a brilliant idea! I think our combined sense of humour would go down an absolute storm!!!
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An Oscar at least!
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