25 Feb 2010

A Quotable Orestes at Folger

Orestes, A Tragic Romp with Holly Twyford as Electra and Jay Sullivan as Orestes. Photo from folger.edu

Let’s establish a couple of things right from the start: in the days prior to seeing Orestes, a Tragic Romp at the Folger Theater I had, for the first time, seen Milk and attended opening night of Richard II at the Shakespeare Theater.  Both were wonderful, but I had more than my fill of the serious and dramatic.  Additionally, I despise musicals.  Yes, I know all the words to Grease and Footloose, but that’s pop culture.  You will never see me at Cats or Oklahoma.  So I was apprehensive, to say the least, seeing a Greek tragedy where the Chorus figures prominently.

The tale of Orestes (Jay Sullivan) and his sister Electra (Holly Twyford) is the terminal story of the house of Atreus which, to call it unfortunate would be an understatement.  If you’re a little nerdy like me, there’s an interesting study guide on the show page under “More” with all the gory details.   And they are gory.  There’s intrigue, familial lust, murder, exile, seduction, kidnapping, war and matricide.  Oh, and cannibalism.  It is a family descended from the gods with all the dysfunction of royalty … and then some.  This play, by Euripides but in a world premiere translation and adaptation by Anne Washburn, tells the final story of the house of Atreus.

It is set after the Trojan War, with Menelaus (the uncle of Orestes and Electra) returning victorious with his wife Helen.  (There’s a helpful family tree in the study guide.)  But, prior to the events of the play, Orestes’ father was murdered, it is believed, by his mother for bringing home from war his acquired lover, Cassandra.  Which is all well and good, except that mom had also taken a lover while her husband was away fighting for 10 years to get his brother’s wife back.  So, with Apollo’s blessing, Orestes kills his mother but is then driven mad by the Furies.  And so our play begins.

For the next hour and 40 minutes, we watch as Orestes and his accomplice-sister Electra wait to learn their fate and – it is a tragedy so I don’t think I’m giving anything away here – struggle to find a way to save themselves from the sword.  Here’s where I do think I will surprise you: it is an entertaining and funny struggle.  Yes, funny.  Washburn’s dialogue is witty and sharp, so much so that I would love to get my hands on the script so I can read it again and again imagining the fantastic delivery of Twyford and Sullivan.  And then there is the Chorus.  They are at turns sweet, bold and supportive; setting the mood with their empathy and driving the action with their intensity.  I loved watching their reactions and soaking in their movements.

This show would be great for a date or a night out with the boss.  Impress them with your knowledge that Twyford and director Aaron Posner are nominated for Helen Hayes awards for Arcadia, a Folger production last season.  And that Margo Seibert, from the Chorus, was also in Arcadia.  See it with a friend, too.  It is loyal friends that try to help our hero and heroine navigate their pitfalls.  If the parents are in town, I’d skip it.  Aside from the strong bond between Orestes and Electra, there’s not much love for family in this play.

Orestes, A Tragic Romp through March 7th at Folger Theater, 201 East Capitol Street, SE.

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