'Agamemnon' adapted by Gisela Cardenas, at The Meeting Place at St. Veronica's Church
The Vortex Theater Company presents Agamemnon, adapted from Aeschylus by Gisela Cardenas, at The Meeting Place at St. Veronica's Church from the 19 Oct - 11 Nov 2005
For ten years, in the absence of her husband, King Agamemnon, Clytemnestra has ruled over a city left vacant by its men fighting the Trojan War. Upon learning of Agamemnon's victorious return, Clytemnestra seeks revenge against her husband for the murder of their oldest child. Centered around the preparation of a grand banquet, Clytemnestra's murderous plot simmers and cooks as she orchestrates a meal in which Agamemnon constitutes the main dish.
A reconstruction of Aeschylus'classic text, production is an amalgam of the different translations of Agamemnon as well as texts borrowed from different sources including autopsy reports, food recipes, internet video game discussion groups, Roland Barthes, Dante, Shakespeare, and others. The production concentrates on the strong connection between food and the process of cooking as it mirrors human nature's lust for power and violence. The audience becomes a central character to the event as its members assume the role of guests at Clytemnestra's great feast.
The cast for Agamemnon, directed by Gisela Cardenas, features: Linda Park (Clytemnestra), Jonathan Green (Agamemnon), Catherine Friesen (Elektra/Cassandra), David Arkema (Archestratos of Gela), and Seth Powers (Aegistus/Messenger)
Female Chorus: Tali Freadman, Rebecca Lingafelter, Raniah Al-Sayed, Irene Antoniazzi, Amelia Henderson, Vivian Chiu
Male Chorus: Gus Danowski, Ed Roggenkamp, Trevor Dallier, Sebastian Calderon-Bentin, Bradon deSpain.
Agamemnon has set design by Jian Jung, costumes by Oana Botez-Ban, lighting by Lucrecia Briceno and sound by Elizabeth Coleman.
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