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| Photo by Rob Cunliffe |
Written by William Shakespeare
The Whitmore-Lindley Theatre
(110006 Magnolia Boulevard, North Hollywood 91601)
Date of reviewed performance: January 14, 2012
Cast
Diomedes - Adam Schroeder
Thersites - Gus Krieger
Helenus, Ensemble, Thersites U/S - Sean Faye
Cassandra - Kate O'Toole
Troilus - Alex Parker
Hector - Napoleon Tavale
Patroclus - Frederik Hamel
Achilles - Matt Calloway
Paris - Jesse James Thomas
Cressida - Taylor Fisher
Agamemnon - Andrew Herrera
Ulysses - Thomas Bigley
Menelaus - Eddie Castuera
Aeneas - Timothy Portnoy
Nestor - John Moskal
Ajax - Dylan Vigus
Andromache - Dana DeRuyck
Helen - Eliza Kiss
Pandarus - Jacques Freydont
Ensemble, Cressida U/S - Christina MacKinnon
The Porters of Hellsgate have chosen the rarely staged Troilus & Cressida as its sixth season opener. This Shakespearean tragedy is often characterized as a problem play because of its inability to fit perfectly into the same boxes as the Bard’s other works and because of the rather unsatisfying ending to the love story of the title characters.
The play takes place as Troy and Greece go to war over Helen, the lovely launcher of countless ships. As back-story, Helen, wife to Menelaus (a Greek), has been abducted by Prince Paris (son of the king of Troy) because of her tremendous beauty. Greece demands her return, but Helen has fallen in love with Paris and refuses to leave. As the play opens, seven years of warfare have gone by and there has been death on both sides. Troilus, a brother to Paris, soon falls in love with Cressida, the daughter of Calchus, a priest who has deserted Troy for the Greeks. Cressida's uncle Pandarus arranges the lovers’ union in the midst of the war.
In an effort to stem further bloodshed, Hector, another brother to Paris and Troilus, challenges the Greeks to send their best man to fight him. This is Achilles, but he is too proud and refuses. They send Ajax in his stead. The fight is a draw as Hector refuses to kill Ajax, his cousin. Eventually, Achilles gives in and agrees to fight Hector, setting up the major battle.
Meanwhile, Agamemnon, the general commander of the Greeks, strikes a deal to exchange a prisoner of war for Cressida, summarily ending her new love affair with Troilus. She and Troilus exchange tokens of each others love and promise to be true as she is taken to her father by Diomedes. Later, Troilus witnesses Cressida agreeing to be Diomedes' mistress and, enraged, vows to defeat him.
Gus Krieger is the standout in this production. He portrays the creepy and repugnant Thersites, a Greek slave and Shakespeare's designated fool. He is sharp-tongued, sarcastic and cruel but completely on point with his observations. Mr. Krieger owns the stage at every entrance and his snarky asides make willing accomplices of the audience.
Other highlights are Eliza Kiss as Helen, Napoleon Tavale as Hector and Matt Calloway as Achilles. Mr. Tavale and Mr. Calloway each cap off formidable performances with a battle sequence containing the most exciting fight choreography you’ll see in a production of Shakespeare. Ms. Kiss is perfectly cast as the luminous Helen of Troy, navigating waters from burdened figurehead to giddy lover with a delicate grace and charm.
The play has an abrupt ending, some unanswered questions and characters with whom it is difficult to sympathize. Yet The Porters have handled “the problem play” with aplomb, making Troilus & Cressida the newest notch in their lengthy list of successes.
Troilus & Cressida runs Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm now through February 19, 2012. Tickets are $20 cash only at the door ($15 for students/seniors). Reservations may be made through Bown Paper Tickets, by phone (818-325-2055) or email (PortersOf Hellsgate@gmail.com).
Troilus & Cressida runs Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm now through February 19, 2012. Tickets are $20 cash only at the door ($15 for students/seniors). Reservations may be made through Bown Paper Tickets, by phone (818-325-2055) or email (PortersOf Hellsgate@gmail.com).
Directed by Charles Pasternak
Produced by Nick Neidorf, Alex Parker, Thomas Bigley, Gus Krieger, Charles Pasternak
Original music by Nick Neidorf
Costume Designer: Jessica Pasternak
Lighting Design by Sterling Hall
Sound Design by Nick Neidorf
Fight Choreography by Charles Pasternak
