Messenger #1, A New Ancient Greek Tragedy NYC Reviews and Tickets

79%

(27 Reviews)

Positive

81%

Mixed

15%

Negative

Members say

Ambitious, Clever, Relevant, Great acting, Thought-provoking

About the Show

Hunger & Thirst Theatre presents a new ancient Greek tragedy, which transforms Aeschylus' 'Oresteia' trilogy into an athletic and lean 90 minutes.

Before the Internet, before newspapers, before carrier pigeons, there were the messengers. 'Messenger #1' centers around the three messengers who serve theater's first dysfunctional royal family. As Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, Electra, and Orestes' heinous actions cause the world to spiral out of control, our messengers’ clear, passionate voices are the country’s only source of information—a powerful, and potentially dangerous, position to hold.

Member Reviews (27)

Ambitious, Entertaining, Quirky, Clever at times, Thought-provoking

See it if You want a modern interpretation of classic Greek plays. You want to support a young theatre company.

Don't see it if You want consistent writing & performance; when it works, it's enjoyable to watch & when it doesn't it's awkward & slow.

Ambitious, Clever, Funny, Relevant, Edgy

See it if You want to see a new take on an old story. A well thought out idea, good actors, interesting use of space, and relevant.

Don't see it if You can't abide small spaces with actors a little on top of you. A little over the top at times, with a couple eye roll moments.

Ambitious, cleverly written, but imperfectly executed

See it if well-written, contemporary language approach to an ancient Greek tragedy by turns funny, poignant, staging fun, some of cast very winning.

Don't see it if You only like classically performed classics.. You require more than 6 actors in a black box theater which is exactly that. Read more

Ambitious, Slow

See it if You enjoy reimaginations of Greek classics.

Don't see it if You avoid plays that are interesting academic exercises but are not compelling when staged.

Absorbing, Great writing, Great acting, Relevant, Thought-provoking

See it if You want to watch the reworking of a Greek tragedy. The show successfully grasps the meaning of ancient tragedy. Solid acting.

Don't see it if You want to see a big production, this one is really small. The beginning is also a little tedious, but overall I enjoyed it.

Clever, Great writing, Intelligent, Ambitious, Thought-provoking

See it if You know the Orestia and want to see a well written, well acted adaptation from the perspective of previously minor characters.

Don't see it if You are not familiar with the orestia

Ambitious, Clever, Dizzying

See it if You like greek tragedies, running all around the stage and theater

Don't see it if You don't like small, intimate productions.

Committed acting, Clever, Refreshing, Entertaining, Engaging

See it if U like intimate settings & watchg good actors up close. The writing brings some modern slang to classical language-basically for a laugh.

Don't see it if U want a spectacle. This is bare-bones but inventive. U don't like being touched. There is some actor-audience contact. U hate Greek tragedy

Critic Reviews (5)

"As presented by Hunger & Thirst Theatre, Mark Jackson's 'Messenger #1' is a modern adaptation of the Greek trilogy by Aeschylus which reinvents the tale for contemporary audiences. With a cast of six superb actors, Hondo Weiss-Richmond's brisk and lucid production is both gripping and provocative and makes these old myths seem new again."
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"Truly a most original and ingenious take on 'Oresteia'…’Messenger #1’ is without a doubt a massive accomplishment. It keeps the essence of the classic Greek plays while making them easy to digest for a 21st-century audience, and it tells a timeless, recognizable tale from a refreshing and topical point of view. It is a truly empowering piece of art—because it tells the truth, and it shows a way to make a difference."
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“A terrific production…The ensemble acting is so fine that our sympathy lies with them, all fully developed, all compelling…The direction by Hondo Weiss-Richmond is clean, clear and imaginative...Mr. Jackson’s dialogue is a careful and clever mix of what falls on the ear as classical...Nothing said is out of place; we are drawn into this new drama which has strong classical chops…There’s much here to consider in this intellectually and physically muscular production.”
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“An innovative dark comedy/drama…’Messenger #1’ has a lot of themes which are still relevant in 2017…Whether the youthful cast engages in simmer-and-seethe expressions of passion, or over-the-top, grand movements, the acting is excellent. The script mixes the indulgently quaint style of ancient Greek translation with some equally indulgent anachronisms…The conclusion of 'Messenger #1' is heavy... but in keeping with the play’s political themes, it’s tragically realistic."
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"It begins with Jackson's inspired prose, an effortless fusion of ancient Greek poetic oratory and modern slang...It is the empathetic performance of the three messengers, caught in a whirlwind of tragedy not of their own making, that grounds us in this ancient story of love and loss...Director Hondo Weiss-Richmond's staging makes great use of the small performing space...This is a play that is unafraid to be theatrical, though some elements are more successful than others."
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