The Bacchae (The Classical Theatre of Harlem) NYC Reviews and Tickets

78%

(8 Reviews)

Positive

88%

Mixed

12%

Negative

Members say

Great staging, Entertaining, Ambitious, Passionate, Funny

About the Show

The Classical Theatre of Harlem presents a free, outdoor staging of a work that continues the company's investigation of the current political and social climate via the Greek classics.

From the show:

Set in the modern era, Dionysus (God of wine and ecstasy) returns to his hometown in order to clear his mother's name and punish the insolent city for not allowing its citizens to worship him. The clash between Dionysus, played as a modern-day rock star and his cousin Pentheus, the uncompromising and moralistic king of the city, examines the consequences of a general public that blindly follows two vastly different leaders. Dionysus represents unbridled freedom and excess while on the other end of the spectrum, Pentheus epitomizes excessive law, order and rigidity. As society slides into fear and tribalism, its citizen's rationale becomes clouded as they blindly take orders and pick sides rather than seek moderation and rationality. CTH's interpretation is a lush and modern version of the classic Greek tragedy that tackles the ills of a culture obsessed with celebrity worship, social media and fear of the other, causing people to lose the ability to see the truth - that people in power are fallible…until it's far too late.

Member Reviews (8)

Not so fresh, Musical, Fun

See it if you’d like to see a sometimes sexy, sometimes funny full update of the basic plot of the Euripides original.

Don't see it if you are expecting to see the Euripides original. Read more

Cleverly modernized, Entertaining, Interesting ideas on how to stage and interpret this play, Ambitious

See it if you like watching Greek plays in real amphitheaters. You don’t mind unpoetic anachronisms. Strong Maenads—both appealing & troubling.

Don't see it if The Bacchae isn't a family-friendly play but the production tries to make it so. Results are a bit weird. Not all of this was coherent to me Read more

Critic Reviews (5)

CRITIC’S PICK "The Greeks Go Coachella in a Boisterous ‘Bacchae.’ Sure, it’s a tragedy, but along the way this Classical Theater of Harlem production is a riot of music and dance, with a Dionysus worthy of Jimi Hendrix."
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"Bryan Doerries, who has adapted…and Carl Cofield, the director, put the tale to their own uses, adding a strong smash-the-patriarchy theme; this is an arguable point and it certainly couldn't be more of the moment. Even with its overt reach for shock and spectacle, however, this Bacchae lacks the gut punch that classical tragedy can deliver."
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★★★★ "'Women Go Powerfully Wild in a Refreshed Classic.' The shrill cries of women gone wild slice through the summer night as The Bacchae erupts in an exhilarating outdoor staging by the Classical Theatre of Harlem in Marcus Garvey Park."
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"A stunning new version written by Bryan Doerries now playing at the open-air theater in Marcus Garvey Park, reveals how relevant the play's themes of the dangers of extremism whether orgies of drinking and sex or authoritarian leadership still are."
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"It would be hard to argue that it brings home the full force or horror that is the usual province of Ancient Greek tragedy. But what is a better tribute to the play's principal character Dionysus, the god of ecstasy, wine…and theater, than a theatrical production with such intoxicating singing, dancing and design."
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