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All’s Fair at Exit on Taylor
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Women are clearly in charge of the stage in Antistrophe Ensemble’s update of the classical Return from Troy cycle. Among the men, only Odysseus, who is conveniently absent, is respected. Maria Giere’s skillful portrayal of Clytemnestra is deadly serious and funny. Misti Boettiger’s Penelope is ironic in her relationships with her friends and romantic about her world-wandering husband. Vince Faso ties to dominate the action with his great voice and story-telling but is defeated by his wife who will not forgive the loss of their daughter. The actors joke well with each other in the back and forth banter that can suddenly become fatal.
Authors Meg O’Conner and Jess Thomas tell the stories in four historical contexts: Post War Britain, Cowboy and Indian America, Star Trek Future and classical Greece complete with togas. The characters change their names in each context but not their personalities.
It’s a pleasure and an education to see ancient theatre brought to life. The Ensemble hooks up with many of the points of the original classical drama. The entire cast turns into the chorus. While the first three scenes have a slapstick surface, the last scene is faithful to the typical sense of anguish and lengthy exposition in Greek tragedy.
The Bay Area is experiencing a classic Greek drama revival with Stanford Summer Theatre’s Electra Festival (www.examiner.com/x-7599-SF-Community-Theater-Examiner~y2009m7d31-Sophocles-Electra-at-Stanford), CatchyName’s Mitch Mikinos (www.catchynametheatre.org) and now Antistrophe Ensemble’s All’s Fair.
The theatre is intimate, the company is brand new, the cast is young and enthusiastic and clever and the audience loves them.
All’s Fair plays at the Exit on Taylor until August 9th.
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