Lysistrata paces, waiting for the women of Athens to arrive for their meeting. Her friend Kleonike arrives, and Lysistrata complains that if there's a festival women are there in a hurry, but for what she has in mind - nothing! Kleonike reassures her that the women will be there and then asks why she's called the meeting. Lysistrata says she's been thinking about the state of things for quite a while and has come to the conclusion that the only way Greece can achieve unity and peace is if the women take control. Kleonike tells her to be practical, saying that women are only good for being pretty, ornamental and sexy. She loses herself in thoughts of all her pretty clothes, but Lysistrata brings her back to reality by saying that's exactly her point, that salvation will be gained by women making themselves so pretty that their men will never want to go to war again. (read more)
