An Iliad
Written by Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare
Directed by Charles Newell
at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis (map)
thru Dec 15 | tickets: $40-$60 | more info
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Epic presentation of an epic poem
Court Theatre presents
An Iliad
Review by Keith Glab
A remount of Court Theatre’s universally praised one-man show from two years ago, An Iliad returns to provide a contemporary interpretation of Homer’s epic poem.
This poet intimates that he not only tells this story regularly, but that he was somehow present for the events. Indeed, he grows far more attached to the characters than a mere scholar would. Kane runs the emotional gamut in his performance, gives subtle distinction to a half dozen characters, and basically kicks butt. He has meticulously crafted his character and speech, but delivers his lines as though it’s an off-the-cuff monologue. Although Kane commands the stage with unrelenting energy, he isn’t afraid to utilize silence in his performance, silences that become all the more powerful with the echo of dripping water in Todd Rosenthal’s vibrantly realistic set. Some theatergoers might have reservations about attending a one-man show based on a text that is thousands of years old, but Kane completely engages the audience for every second of his time onstage.
This adaptation condenses the 24-book Iliad into 100 minutes, which naturally makes the narrative more digestible. The focus gets narrowed to events surrounding Achillies, Patroclus, Hector, and Priam. Any acknowledgement of The Iliad as a perfect account of warrior culture is gone in favor of a modern Americanized interpretation of the events. Berserk bloodlust is equated with road rage and a grocery store metaphor helps answer the question of why Troy and Greece have continued to battle for ten years. All of this conspires to humanize the terrible consequences of warfare not only in the Trojan War, but throughout wars across millennia.
The only issue with the production is that we never get more than an inkling of who this poet is, why he is compelled to tell this story repeatedly, and who we are as the audience of his epic tale. Is the poet some immortal observer who is forced to engross himself in the details of every war spanning millennia, or an unhinged academic talking to himself in a sewer? Neither interpretation fits perfectly well with the performance. It would heighten the experience for the audience to have a Eureka moment at the play’s conclusion in which they have some confidence in the logistics of the narrative’s framework.
Of course, it is this ambiguity that may inspire someone who saw this production in 2011 to experience it again and perhaps come away with a different understanding. For those who missed An Iliad the first time around, take this bonus opportunity to enjoy an epic presentation of an epic poem.
Rating: ★★★½
An Iliad continues through December 8th at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis (map), with performances Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays 8pm, Saturdays 3pm and 8pm, Sundays 2:30pm. Tickets are $40-$60, and are available by phone (773-753-4472) or online through their website (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at CourtTheatre.org. (Running time: 1 hour 40 minutes without intermission)
Photos by Michael Brosilow
artists
cast
Timothy Edward Kane (Poet), Jason Huysman (understudy)
behind the scenes
Charles Newell (director), Aileen McGroddy (asst. director), Robert Fagles (translation), Todd Rosenthal (set design), Rachel Anne Healy (costumes), Keith Parham (lighting), Andre Pluess (sound design), Katherine Kretler (dialect coach), Drew Dir (dramaturg), William Collins (production stage manager), Sara Gammage (stage manager), Michael Brosilow (photos)
13-1130
