Messenger #1, A New Ancient Greek Tragedy
Closed 1h 30m
Messenger #1, A New Ancient Greek Tragedy
79

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

79%
(27 Ratings)
Positive
81%
Mixed
15%
Negative
4%
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.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (27)

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IS
98 Reviews | 36 Followers
95
Ambitious, Great staging, Great writing, Thought-provoking

See it if you're familiar with Oresteia and want to see an excellent interpretation that both stays true to the original and provides a fresh viewpoin

Don't see it if Some prior familiarity with the story might be useful though by no means necessary. Read more

58 Reviews | 15 Followers
90
Great acting, Intelligent, Relevant, Refreshing, Clever

See it if Like a contemporary, fast-paced telling of classic stories

Don't see it if You're looking for fancy staging or set

52 Reviews | 12 Followers
88
Clever, Edgy, Great acting, Great writing, Refreshing

See it if You think ancient Greek dramas can be brought to life in mixed vernacular, and are unafraid to scrutinize given history from another's view

Don't see it if You have no tolerance for a bit of histrionic over-the-topness in your Greek tragedies.

54 Reviews | 36 Followers
86
Funny, Great acting, Absorbing, Relevant

See it if You are interested in a Greek tragedy told with a lot of fun by an ensemble that works well together. Special note to the Furies.

Don't see it if You are claustrophobic or don't want to sit in the front row.

103 Reviews | 18 Followers
81
Clever, Relevant, Heavy-handed, Resonant, Unpolished

See it if you like Greek drama, don't mind a mix of modern and classical vernacular, & want a treatment of contemporary issues in a historical setting

Don't see it if you expect high production values, a polished and professional presentation, or subtle, nuanced acting. The quality of acting was varied.

99 Reviews | 47 Followers
81
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

141 Reviews | 57 Followers
80
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.

116 Reviews | 18 Followers
78
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.

Critic Reviews (5)

TheaterScene.net
March 6th, 2017

"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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Theatre is Easy
March 5th, 2017

"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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Front Row Center
March 7th, 2017

“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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The Huffington Post
March 8th, 2017

“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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CHARGED.fm
March 5th, 2017

"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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