A Tim Burton twist on famous Greek tragedy

Euripedes’ “Medea” will be performed in the Phillippe Performing Arts Center’s Black Box Theatre beginning tonight. The play is a Greek tragedy about Medea who avenges her husband for marrying another woman.

Although the play was written more than 2000 years ago, director Rachel Marley (sr) has worked hard to make the play relatable to a 21st century audience, she said.

“I think there are a lot of things that the younger audience will be able to connect with and find interesting,” Marley said.

The set, makeup and costumes resemble a Tim Burton creation, Marley said.

“[The play has a] motif of ghosts and being haunted by things from your past,” she said, “so what better way to display that than this … Tim Burton-esque style that we’ve gone with?”

“With our generation we’re automatically drawn to darker things in that sense,” added Cody Konschak (so).

Konschak plays Jason, Medea’s husband. In Greek mythology, Jason is considered a great war hero, but in this play he is typically viewed as the antagonist.

“I’ve had a little bit of trouble with [playing Jason],” said Konschak. “I’m not the nicest guy in the world; I know what it’s like to be a jerk, but [not] to this extent that he’s willing to leave everything.”

Konschak said it helps to view the play from the cultural setting it is in. In Greek times, it was normal when men had other women on the side, and women’s primary role was to bear children and take care of the home.

“We’ve taken pains to not portray Jason as this villain – because he’s not,” said Marley. “By the end, if you do not feel for this man, you’re heartless.”

Marley said that it’s the opposite with Medea. The audience will sympathize with her character at first, but by the end disagree with her actions.

“It’s this complete flip-flop,” said Marley. “I think that if nothing else [the audience] will be able to grab onto that, even if they don’t get all the background Greek [cultural understanding].”

The modern feel of the play has also been accomplished through the translation by Kenneth McLeish and Frederic Raphael’s translation, said Marley.

“We found a really great modern translation, [but] it’s not so modern that it’s at the point of being corny,” Marley said.

Marley is not only directing the play, but is also starring as Medea, for her senior project.

“It’s hard being on stage and then trying to remove from that to be the director,” Marley said. “It’s two whole different sides of your brain.” She has had to rely on her cast and crew for support in this balancing act.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 8:00 AM and is filed under Arts & Entertainment.
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