`IPHIGENIA' BRINGS TROJAN WAR TO L.A.Byline: - Evan Henerson Fate-crossed King Agamemnon broods on the beach at Aulis, an awful choice weighing him down. To secure favorable winds in order to sail to Troy, he has to sacrifice his treasured daughter, Iphigenia, to the gods. As anybody familiar with the House of Atrius well knows, this will not end happily. The inevitability of Iph's fate isn't the problem in Euripides' ``Iphigenia in Aulis.'' Rather, what works against Colette Freedman's adaptation for Circus Theatricals is a too- modern sensibility -- including modern dress -- that throws the play into a half-timely/ half-universal netherland. Certainly, a play dealing with the personal costs of war should strike a chord -- more so today than ever. And it's entirely human of Agamemnon (played by a gaunt gaunt thin plus obvious diminution in abdominal size, indicative of reduced feed intake leading to reduced gut fill. Thomas Kopache Thomas Kopache (born October 17, 1945) is an American actor. Kopache was born in Manchester, New Hampshire. He is known as Assistant Secretary of State Bob Slatterly in The West Wing and for various roles in the Star Trek franchise. ) and his brother Menelaus (John Ross Clark Ross Clark (born February 7, 1983) is a Scottish footballer who currently plays for Alloa Athletic. He was born in Glasgow, and is a midfielder. Clark had initially signed a contract with Queen's Park, during the 2000-01 season where he played three games in his debut season ) to flip-flop their positions on whether Iphigenia (Jade Sealey) should give her life for the good of Greece. Even the princess, when she arrives, initially begs for her life, showing herself to be more flesh and blood than martyr. Then she changes her mind. The words Freedman freed·man n. A man who has been freed from slavery. freedman Noun pl -men History a man freed from slavery Noun 1. has coming from everybody's mouths, however, seem relentlessly clunky and contemporary. The dialogue suits the present-day production trappings (including Kitty Rose's pop tent and combat fatigues com·bat fatigue n. Posttraumatic stress disorder resulting from wartime combat or similar experiences. No longer in scientific use. Also called battle fatigue, shell shock. ) but seems to clash with the three-person female chorus (Donna Luisa Guinan, Rocky Bonifield and Lindsay Bellock) that provides sing-songy commentary. The production benefits highly from Strawn Bovee's work as a relentless and dignified Clytemnestra. Hers would be a difficult plea for a husband or hero warrior (in this case, Jerry Goble's Achilles) to ignore. But ignore it they must if the Trojan War Trojan War, in Greek mythology, war between the Greeks and the people of Troy. The strife began after the Trojan prince Paris abducted Helen, wife of Menelaus of Sparta. When Menelaus demanded her return, the Trojans refused. is going to proceed, as we all know it will, and if the House of Atrius is to collapse like a series of bloodsoaked dominos. ``Iphigenia'' is Circus Theatricals first production at the company's new studio theater at the Hayworth since relocating from the Odyssey. IPHIGENIA AT AULIS - Two and one half stars Where: Circus Theatricals Studio Theatre at the Hayworth, 2511 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . When: 8 p.m. Friday and May 20. Tickets: $20. (323) 960-1054. www.circustheatricals.com In a nutshell: The personal cost of the Trojan War loses its poetry and potency through Colette Freedman's adaptation of the Euripides tragedy. |
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