`IPHIGENIA' BRINGS TROJAN WAR TO L.A.Byline: - Evan Henerson Fate-crossed King Agamemnon Agamemnon (ă'gəmĕm`nŏn), in Greek mythology, leader of the Greek forces in the Trojan War; king of Mycenae (or Argos). He and Menelaus Menelaus (mĕnəlā`əs), in Greek mythology, king of Sparta, son of Atreus. He was the husband of Helen, father of Hermione, and younger brother of Agamemnon. When Paris, prince of Troy, abducted Helen, Menelaus asked the other Greek kings to join him in an expedition against Troy, beginning the Trojan War. were sons of Atreus and suffered the curse laid upon Pelops. Agamemnon married Clytemnestra Clytemnestra (klī'təmnĕs`trə), in Greek mythology, the daughter of Leda and Tyndareus. Homer described her as the noble-minded wife of Agamemnon, persuaded to infidelity by the tyrant Aegisthus. However, the Greek tragedians, most specifically Aeschylus, depicted her as remorseless and vengeful., and their children were Iphigenia Iphigenia (ĭf'əjənī`ə), in Greek legend, daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. When the Greek ships were delayed by contrary winds at Aulis en route to the Trojan War, Calchas informed Agamemnon that Artemis demanded the sacrifice of his daughter Iphigenia., Electra, and Orestes. broods on the beach at Aulis Aulis (ô`lĭs), small port of ancient Greece, in Boeotia, E central Greece. From there the Greek fleet sailed against Troy after the sacrifice of Iphigenia. Its ancient temple of Artemis is in ruins., 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 Euripides (y  rĭp`ĭdēz), 480 or 485–406 B.C., Greek tragic dramatist, ranking with Aeschylus and Sophocles. Born in Attica, he lived in Athens most of his life, though he spent much time on Salamis. He died in Macedonia, at the court of King Archelaus.' ``Iphigenia in Aulis.'' Rather, what works against Colette Colette (Sidonie Gabrielle Colette) (sēdōnē` gäbrēĕl` kōlĕt`), 1873–1954, French novelist. Colette achieved popularity with numerous novels, characterized by sensitive observations—particularly of women—and an intimate, semiautobiographical style. 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 Thomas Kopache) and his brother Menelaus (John Ross Clark) to flip-flop An electronic circuit that alternates between two states. When current is applied, it changes to its opposite state (0 to 1 or 1 to 0). Made of several transistors, it is used in the design of static memories and hardware registers. 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 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) 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 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. 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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