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Helena’s Husband – Philip Moeller

Helena’s Husband – Philip Moeller

Philip Moeller (25 August1880 – 26 April 1958) was an American Stage Producer, director, Playwright and screenplay writer born New York and educated at New York University and Columbia University.

Philip Moeller’s Play, ‘Helena’s Husband’ is a hilarious presentation of the primary cause behind the Trojan War. Helena, the wife of the Spartan King, Menelaus, eloped with Paris, the prince of Troy. This incident of elopement infuriated Menelaus and his brother Agamemnon declared war against Troy with the help of allied forces of Grecian kingdoms. A host of Greek warriors battled against Troy to reclaim Helena. After ten years of bloodshed and siege, the Greeks finally penetrated the invincible fortress of Troy and burned it down.

This hilarious comic play, ‘Helena’s Husband’ discusses the reasons behind the elopement of Helena with Paris. Menelaus is so fed up with his wife, Helena and her stupidity though she is astonishingly beautiful woman in the entire Spartan Kingdom and he desires to get rid off her, but he lacks the will to do it. Right on the cue, there enters a young man who introduces himself as Paris, a shepherd living in the hills. He announces that he dreams to have a glimpse of Helena and desires to possess her. Menelaus delighted with Paris’s intention and arranges the meeting of Helena and Paris. Helena has fallen in love with Paris by his good looks and charming conversations. Both Paris and Helena elope to Troy with the help of the Menelaus, the husband of Helena.

Menelaus has only a few minutes of ecstasy and happiness believing that his wife has run away with the shepherd. His ecstasy and happiness fade away when he has come to know the truth that Paris is not a shepherd but Prince of Troy. Though, Menelaus is not happy with the disloyalty and betrayal of his wife, he refuses to declare war on Troy by giving all sorts of excuses.   But, the play ends with Analytiko’s (The King’s Librarian) addressing the Spartans and declaring war on Troy ignoring Menelaus’s protests.

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