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- Uncategorized (111)
- 8. October 2011: LIVES ON THE ROCKS
- 7. October 2011: YOU CAN PICK YOUR FRIENDS...
- 28. August 2011: GOING OUT WITH A BANG
- 7. August 2011: THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUSTING THE TEXT
- 4. August 2011: EVERYTHING'S "ALRIGHT"
- 30. July 2011: SHE’S A DIRTY, DIRTY GIRL
- 24. July 2011: HISTORY LESSONS WITH LAUGHS
- 23. July 2011: RING! RING! DON’T ANSWER THAT PHONE!
- 21. July 2011: ENTERTAINING FAMILY FARE FROM CLO
- 15. July 2011: ONE HORN OR TWO?
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YOU CAN PICK YOUR FRIENDS…
YOU CAN PICK YOUR FRIENDS, BUT YOU CAN’T…
F. J. Hartland
Electra is (justifiably) upset. Her mother Clytemnestra (in cahoots with her lover Aegithus) has murdered Agamemnon (husband of Clytemnestra and father to Electra). And Electra’s brother Orestes is far, far away and can’t help her. And it looks like Aegithus has plans to bury Electra (without letting her die first).
Talk about a dysfunctional family!
But it’s just another day in Greek tragedy
Electra is the current production at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre.
Under the direction of Artistic Director Ted Pappas, it is an uneven production at best.
From the set to the costumes to the acting styles, the overall look of the show is quite eclectic. The set by James Noone is rather simple…two large walls held up by chains. Gabriel Berry’s costumes look like a mish-mash of Greek and medieval and modern day. And sometimes the performances have a “classic” feel to them with stylized movement; other moments look like modern Stanislavski.
So when exactly does director Pappas see Electra set? I don’t know.
And there seemed to be powerful emotional moments that drew inappropriate laughter from the audience.
As Electra Catherine Eaton has a primal, almost animalistic quality. It is a very physical performance. But even at her best, Electra is not a likeable character—no matter how wronged she has been.
But she seems a charmer once you meet Lisa Harrow’s bitch queen Clytemnestra. Electra wants her dead. I’m thinking it’s not such a bad idea.
Chrysothmis (played by Catherine Gowl) is given more levels to play, and she plays them well. It creates an excellent contrast to the other two female leads.
Michael Simpson plays brother Orestes as if Electra was a new NBC sitcom instead of a classic Greek tragedy. His performance seems very out-of-place in this production.
Poor David Whalen! Not only does he have the last entrance of the play, he is given very little do. And it looks like he is wearing one of Regina’s dressing gowns from The Little Foxes.
Electra is mercifully short, running only about 85 minutes and is played without an intermission.
One side note… the program credits McCorkle Casting, Ltd. in program for “Casting.” With all the talent in Pittsburgh, does the Public Theatre really need a casting agency to fill its casts?
Electra continues through October 30.