Iphigenia Among the Taurians (FringeNYC)
About the show
Part of FringeNYC: In a foreign land, where strangers are executed on sight, a captive priestess dreams of revenge…But the Gods have other plans. Muscular, contemporary language and a-cappella pop music punctuate this electrifying tale of grief, redemption, and joy. More…
Categories: Drama, Comedy, Brooklyn, NY. From Everyday Inferno Theatre Company. Adapted from Euripides. Director: Anais Koivisto. Performed outdoors for FREE. No tickets required.
FROM THE ARTIST:
A world premiere adaptation of Euripides' powerful and thought-provoking finale to the famed House of Atreus cycle. This rarely performed Greek tragicomedy is bolstered by buoyant contemporary language and... a-cappella pop music.
In a strange land, where foreign visitors are sentenced to death, a group of captive women dream of escape, revenge, and the homes they left behind. Saved from sacrifice by the goddess Artemis, Iphigenia serves as priestess in the temple at Tauris. Orestes, the last son of the House of Atreus, arrives on their shore on a doomed mission. What threads hold these desperate individuals together? Only the Gods know for sure. Led by mighty female characters, and infused with unexpected humor and warmth, Iphigenia Among the Taurians is a story of forgiveness, the unbreakable bonds of family, and the power of love over even the most potent grief.
Featuring: Alexandra Acosta, Santoya Fields, Mark Hawkins, Malloree Hill, Caroline Lyell, Zac Pierce-Messick, Cristina M Ramos, Haley Sakamoto, Rita Suri, and Brennie Tellu.
Directed by Anaïs Koivisto
Produced by Katherine Sommer
Music Direction by Kristin Sgarro
Summit Rock (Central Park's highest point!) can be reached via B or C train to the 81st St/Central Park West (http://webmail.freehostia.com/#NOP) entrance of the park, then up the first path on the left. For more information on the production, visit www.everydayinferno.com (http://www.everydayinferno.com/)
"One of the best productions of ancient Greek drama I’ve seen in years...The text of the adaptation strikes a smile-inducing, attention-grabbing, and surprisingly believable balance between literary authenticity and contemporary informality and even snark...It’s a thoughtful modern gloss on an ancient text that has enough space and sway to accommodate modern tastes and philosophies and entertain modern audiences, while staying true to the legends that birthed it." Full Review
"Overall, 'Iphigenia Among the Taurians' is a charming production that makes a strong case for the lasting relevance of the theater of Ancient Greece, though this is somewhat heavy-handedly impressed upon the audience by an uneven translation that is at times ultra-modern and at others closer to the poetry of the original...Despite these anachronistic moments, however, the show confidently asks us to imagine how we, like the Greek survivors of the wars, move forward with love." Full Review
See it if you enjoy free theatre, being in the park, hearing well sung harmonies, want a well made faithful classical production that's still resonant
Don't see it if walking up a hill is a problem (venue is high up), bad weather or being outside scares you off, you hate classical theatre (why?)
See it if You like well-staged productions that, mostly successfully, reinvigorate the classics.
Don't see it if Pop songs distract you.
See it if you want to see a refreshing take on a classic in a great Central Park space.
Don't see it if you melt during a wee thunderstorm.
See it if You are interested in a sprightly, sassy Euripides adaptation. Largely well acted and directed without amplification, which is a pleasure.
Don't see it if Okay, the last half hour was disappointing, with slapstick and questionable music choices. Makes one wonder where the direction got lost.
See it if you enjoy the Greeks, with the beautiful Summit Rock as the background.
Don't see it if Glee-like pop songs throw you, you need a comfortable place to sit, and/or you have hearing problems (voices tend to get lost).
See it if You love Greek plays with a happy ending! Love a solid mostly all female cast!
Don't see it if You don't like accapella. Don't like sitting outside.
See it if you like emotionally resonant, beautifully staged stories. It was a family epic about love, loss, and hope. There were a few great surprises
Don't see it if You don't like togas.
See it if You're looking for fresh writing out of the box staging
Don't see it if you prefer white bread predictable theatre
See it if You like the park, free entertainment, and intelligent translations of classics.
Don't see it if You hate women and singing.
See it if You want to see an amazing cast of talented women (and men) acting and singing their hearts out.
Don't see it if You don't like being in Central Park.
See it if Something different , and intelligent . A Greek classic that is appropriate for all ages. Very entertaining .
Don't see it if You don't want to be in an outside setting, for a production.
See it if you look for affordable (free) and diverse theatre with lots of women, that is funny, heart-warming/wrenching, & applicable to current times
Don't see it if you're not in NYC and can't get here to see it.
See it if you like Greece myth
Don't see it if don't want to sit outside after dark
Cast & Creatives
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