Review: Oresteia, Adapted by Robert Icke

Laura Gawlinski

Review: Oresteia, Adapted by Robert Icke

Research output: Other contribution

Abstract

Robert Icke’s adaptation of Aeschylus’ Oresteia twists the themes and conflicts of the three ancient Greek plays that make up its source material into fresh horror for the modern stage. Icke taps into the big-picture issues that are worked out through the mythology of Orestes and his family—the steep costs of war, the nature of justice, the marginalization of women, the role of religion in politics, and the irreconcilability of obligations to family and state—to create a work that feels both novel and timeless. First staged at London’s Almeida Theatre in 2015 as part of a season of Greek-based productions and events , the play had a successful U.S. premiere by the Theatre School at DePaul University under the direction of April Cleveland (MFA Directing 2019) in May 2019.

Original language	American English
State	Published - 2019

Keywords

classical reception; drama; Aeschylus

Disciplines

Classics
Translation Studies
Theater and Performance Studies

Cite this

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title = "Review: Oresteia, Adapted by Robert Icke",

abstract = " Robert Icke{\textquoteright}s adaptation of Aeschylus{\textquoteright} Oresteia twists the themes and conflicts of the three ancient Greek plays that make up its source material into fresh horror for the modern stage. Icke taps into the big-picture issues that are worked out through the mythology of Orestes and his family—the steep costs of war, the nature of justice, the marginalization of women, the role of religion in politics, and the irreconcilability of obligations to family and state—to create a work that feels both novel and timeless. First staged at London{\textquoteright}s Almeida Theatre in 2015 as part of a season of Greek-based productions and events , the play had a successful U.S. premiere by the Theatre School at DePaul University under the direction of April Cleveland (MFA Directing 2019) in May 2019. ",

keywords = "classical reception; drama; Aeschylus",

author = "Laura Gawlinski",

note = "Adapted by Robert Icke Directed by April Cleveland May 3-12, 2019 The Theatre School at DePaul University Watts Theatre Chicago, Illinois Reviewed by Laura Gawlinski Loyola University Chicago {"}If the questions at the heart of this play confound you and take your breath away, the Greeks have done their job.{"} Gawlinski, L. 2019. {"}Review: Oresteia, Adapted by Robert Icke{"} Didaskalia 15.",

year = "2019",

language = "American English",

type = "Other",

}

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AU - Gawlinski, Laura

N1 - Adapted by Robert Icke Directed by April Cleveland May 3-12, 2019 The Theatre School at DePaul University Watts Theatre Chicago, Illinois Reviewed by Laura Gawlinski Loyola University Chicago "If the questions at the heart of this play confound you and take your breath away, the Greeks have done their job." Gawlinski, L. 2019. "Review: Oresteia, Adapted by Robert Icke" Didaskalia 15.

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Robert Icke’s adaptation of Aeschylus’ Oresteia twists the themes and conflicts of the three ancient Greek plays that make up its source material into fresh horror for the modern stage. Icke taps into the big-picture issues that are worked out through the mythology of Orestes and his family—the steep costs of war, the nature of justice, the marginalization of women, the role of religion in politics, and the irreconcilability of obligations to family and state—to create a work that feels both novel and timeless. First staged at London’s Almeida Theatre in 2015 as part of a season of Greek-based productions and events , the play had a successful U.S. premiere by the Theatre School at DePaul University under the direction of April Cleveland (MFA Directing 2019) in May 2019.

AB - Robert Icke’s adaptation of Aeschylus’ Oresteia twists the themes and conflicts of the three ancient Greek plays that make up its source material into fresh horror for the modern stage. Icke taps into the big-picture issues that are worked out through the mythology of Orestes and his family—the steep costs of war, the nature of justice, the marginalization of women, the role of religion in politics, and the irreconcilability of obligations to family and state—to create a work that feels both novel and timeless. First staged at London’s Almeida Theatre in 2015 as part of a season of Greek-based productions and events , the play had a successful U.S. premiere by the Theatre School at DePaul University under the direction of April Cleveland (MFA Directing 2019) in May 2019.

KW - classical reception; drama; Aeschylus

UR - https://www.didaskalia.net/issues/15/7/

M3 - Other contribution

ER -

Review: Oresteia, Adapted by Robert Icke

Abstract

Keywords

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