Theatre goes Greek

By Denise Doerschel

This weekend's Greek plays both explore women's role during times of war. Though the plays were written in the middle of the 5th century, each contains many modern implications.

For the first play, "The Trojan Women," Director Fred Tollini, S.J. uses his own translation from the original Greek text written by Euripides. This play is an emotional drama filled with hopelessness and despair.

"The Trojan Women portrays women as the victims of war," Tollini said.

The second play, Lysistrata, comes from Aristophanes. For this interpretation, Tollini uses his own translations combined with some English adaptations. Contrary to "The Trojan Women," "Lysistrata" is full of humor and lightheartedness.

"The second play, Lysistrata, portrays women as the possibility of avoiding war," Tollini said.

Together, the two plays cover an enormous emotional spectrum and present two drastically different perspectives.

"The Trojan Women" begins in the present time at an excavation site where the archaeologists discover a small child's bones buried on top of a shield. Shortly after, the characters transform into the Greek god and goddess, Poseidon and Athena. They reflect on the past incidents of the Trojan War and set the stage for the events to come. Hecuba, queen of the Trojans, is the first to emerge from the excavation site and come to life. Following her are several other Trojan women. Their sadness and despair is conveyed in their songs of melancholy.

The Greeks have defeated their city, their husbands have been killed, and they themselves are about to become captives. The women turn to Hecuba for answers to their fate; however, she is in a devastated state. Nearly all her children have been slain in the war, and her beloved daughter Cassandra has been ordered into slavery. The women are inconsolable and often cry and shriek with grief, and the Greeks that were ordered to capture them show no signs of compassion.

"The Trojan Women" is a tragedy in every sense of the word, yet this display of suffering is meant to examine deeper understandings. It explores the effects of war and the permanent damage it causes. Rather than answer a question, the play proposes one � is war worth its repercussions?

While "The Trojan Women" portrays women as weak and codependent, "Lysistrata" depicts them as strong and independent. Despite the blatant comedy in this play, there are also serious undertones that challenge traditional gender stereotypes. Additionally, it supports the conclusion that women should be concerned with war since they are often its victims.

"Lysistrata," an Athenian woman, decides that the war between Athens and Sparta must end. To accomplish her goal, she rallies the other women to abstain from sex and force the men into submission.

This so called women's strike against the war challenges the traditional roles of women and takes a stand. It shows that though they have no political rights, they are capable of taking a more realistic approach to war by attempting to work things out.

These two Greek plays offer both dramatic and comedic interpretations of war as well as grapple with many questions that continue to plague our society today. In this sense, they may be easily understood and enjoyed by one who is unfamiliar with ancient Greece.

"The Trojan Women" and "Lysistrata" are directed by Fred Tollini, S.J. and choreographed by Kristin Kusanovich with original music composed by Greg Shultz. The entire production, both plays included, runs about two hours and 45 minutes. It opens in Mayer Theater on Friday, Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $14 for general admission, $5 for faculty, staff and students.