Gamut Theatre Group, home of Harrisburg Shakespeare Festival and Popcorn Hat Players, will present Euripides’ classic tragedy Iphigenia at Aulis, from March 21-30 at Gamut Classic Theatre in Strawberry Square.
Agamemnon’s fleet is poised to invade Troy, but the goddess Artemis is holding the wind at ransom. Agamemnon must decide if he will sacrifice his eldest daughter, Iphigenia, to appease her anger. The play begs the question: when politics become personal, how far are we willing to go?
Gamut’s production of Iphigenia features an all-female cast: the women of the Gamut Core Company and one guest artist will fill all the roles. Guest director Jamie Tyrrell feels that the casting reflects a female voice already present in the play.
“The play is written with a chorus of women commenting on the action,” Tyrrell says, “in our production, the entire voice is female, so we’re drawing on an idea that’s already there.”
Film elements will be integrated, with the Chorus (played by Abi Van Andel, who appeared in Fall 2007’s Titus Andronicus) projected on video. Tyrrell uses this device to highlight the contemporary relevance of the piece.
“The use of film gives the Chorus a ‘newcaster’ feel,” she says. “The media is sort of the ‘chorus’ of our time.”
In addition to Van Andel as the Chorus, Gamut Executive Director Melissa Nicholson plays Agamemnon, Public Relations Director Alexis Dow plays Iphigenia and a servant to Agamemnon, Resident Theatre Manager Krista Carter plays Clytaemnestra, and Print Publicity Designer Jennie Kelley plays Menelaus and Achilles.
Iphigenia at Aulis runs March 21-30, 2008 at Gamut Classic Theatre, 3rd Floor, Strawberry Square, Harrisburg. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m. There is no performance on March 23 (Easter Sunday). Tickets are Bring Your Own Price: any size donation buys your ticket to the theatre. Information at http://www.gamutplays.org.
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