Also see Ann's review of Tribes
It's heavy stuff. But, presented theatrically, and a little more straighforwardly, by Teagle F. Bougere in An Iliad, Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare's adaptation (translation by Robert Fagles), the audience is mesmerized. It's grown-up storytime. The Poet (Bougere) shuffles onto a what looks like an abandoned construction site (set design by Marion Williams, also credited with costume design), opens his worn suitcase, and proceeds to spin a tale that from magical thread that is both ancient and contemporary. Occasionally using humor to lift the mood from the violent, tragic details of war, The Poet is both a participant in the events and a commentator. It is emotional and it is compelling, and you might long for a shot of the tequila The Poet has brought along to ease the tension. Director Jesse Berger puts all of his resources to perfect use: the text, the actor, the set, lighting (Seth Reiser), music and sound (Ryan Rumery). We are spellbound spectators, taken back to a time of war that isn't so far from today as we would wish. An Iliad, through April 6, 2014, at the O'Reilly Theater for Pittsburgh Public Theater. For performance and ticket information, visit http://ppt.org/.
|