Rites and Sacrifices
Written by Jennifer L. Mickelson
Directed by Evan Jackson
at Collaboraction, 1579 N. Milwaukee (map)
thru March 23 | tickets: $15-$20 | more info
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Evocative re-imagining of Euripides’ war play
Idle Muse Theatre presents
Rites and Sacrifices
Review by Patrick Dyer
What comes to mind when you think about the aftermath of war? It could be the soldiers returning home crippled and wounded, the dead arriving in coffins, and the decimation of country sides. But what about those who are left to bury those dead and mourn for their losses? This was something raised by Greek dramatist Euripides in his works, particularly in The Suppliant Women, where he focused on the overlooked aftermath of war: the grief of the mothers losing their sons, the wives their husbands, and the daughters their fathers. And playwright Jennifer L. Mickelson tackles this same subject in Rites and Sacrifices, adapted from Euripides’ war play, but with a contemporary twist.
Mickelson creates a very unique world for her play. While a modern adaptation of The Suppliant Women, she takes elements from the world of today with the world of Ancient Greece to create an evocative tone as she explores the aftermath of war. It could have been easy to just take this play and use it as a jab against modern warfare (primarily in the Middle East), but this mixture of different time periods makes Rites and Sacrifices a more complex and timeless piece. In this world, the women dress in peasant clothes from Ancient Greece while the leaders wear suit and ties. The soldiers are dressed as contemporary soldiers, but with no definable flags or symbols on their bodies. Projections are used quite often to show images of their gods and even “Breaking News” segments. Mickelson’s language complements Euripides’ poetic flair while mixing in the bluntness of contemporary dialog. However, the script isn’t without faults.
There are times when the heavy tone and tension are broken with some attempts at comic relief that fall a bit flat, as when the messenger Marlas (Matt Gibson) comes in at the end in a silly costume right after the emotional highpoint of the show. The play also feels a bit too short. We might have seen more with the women interacting with each other since it is essentially about them, but at least Mickelson makes the effort to show why the two kings are so sidetracked when it comes to this situation. Director Evan Jackson allows the atmosphere of his piece to build at a reasonably brisk pace, despite the play’s short running time. I especially enjoyed how he incorporated the Ancient Greek methods of theatricality with grand acting, spacious staging, and offstage vocal work.
 
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The cast manages to combine the ancient Greek techniques with a contemporary flair that prevents the piece from becoming overly indulgent. Volkers as King Theseus successfully captures Mickelson’s re-imagining of the king by appearing less as a legendary ruler of Greece and more like a contemporary politician: openly vulnerable and worrisome, though always trying to keep his people’s interests in mind (key word: trying). Laura Jones Macknin as Theseus’ mother Aithra is the play’s more successful comic relief who bounces off Theseus’ heavier emotions while still being aware of the weight of the situations around her. Penick as Adrastos has more guilt to deal with being the King of Argos, and it shows clearly in his performance. However, the play truly shines with Asher as Eudocia, Dornheggen as Thais, Gordon as Evadne, and Waller as Iphis, the grieving women of Argos. They each embody different stages of grief (denial, anger, depression, etc.), and every time they are onstage you can feel their passion all throughout the space.
Rites and Sacrifices may not be 100% perfect, but it’s still a powerful insight into the aftermath of war and asks the audiences serious questions on the state of war: What would we do if our loved ones died in battle? How could we possibly recover? What can we do to stop the grief from such a situation? Despite the occasional bump in the road and the short running time, this is still a powerfully emotional piece, and in an adaptation of a Greek drama, that’s a success in my book.
Rating: ★★★
Rites and Sacrifices continues through March 23rd at Flat Iron Arts Building, Collaboraction Studio, 1579 N. Milwaukee (map), with performances Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays 3pm. Tickets are $15-$20, and are available by phone (773-340-9438) or online through their website (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at IdleMuse.org. (Running time: 80 minutes, no intermission)
artists
cast
Allison Asher (Eudocia), Alison Dornheggen (Thais), Matt Gibson (Marlas), Caty Gordon (Evadne), Elizabeth MacDougald (Demeter), Laura Jones Macknin (Aithra), James McGuire (Press, Soldier), Jon Patrick Penick (Adrastos), Joel Thompson (Panos), Josh Volkers (Theseus, Tydeus), Jean Waller (Iphis)
behind the scenes
Evan Jackson (director), Nathan Pease (assistant director), Sara Robinson (stage manager, technical director), Dennis Mae (set design), Michael Kunc (original music, sound design), Erin Gallagher (costume design), Laura Wiley (lighting, design, projections), Libby Beyreis (violence design)
14-0240
