Sunday, July 13, 2008

Epidarus


We venture now to Epidarus for the National Theatre of Greece's production of Aristophanes- (pronounced Ar- ist- o- phan- es) The Frogs. The director for our final performance is in the company. Epidarus- an ancient fourteen thousand seat house- packed. When's the last time you saw that for a piece of theatre?
In it, Dionysius travels to the Underworld to bring back the greatest tragic playwright. Will it be Aeschylus or Euripides? The two playwrights fight it out using examples from their writing.
In this version- the plays seem totally and completely mutable- true directors theatre- it was done as a sporting event- complete with astroturf covered stage and bullpens they retreated to, covered in sponsors stickers like a Nascar racer. The shapeshifting chorus was the most interesting for me- great mask work- some huge, some on the back of heads- otherworldly- and some delightfully simple; a hoody with eyes.

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