THE 1041C Theater Reviews

Reading plays are not always as much fun as watching them, but I personally love to see how actors and directors choose to play out works of writing on stage or on screen. In this case, the work being played out in front of me was Euripides’ Medea. Directed by Mahayana Landowne and performed in the BPAC (Baruch Performing Arts Center), it was better than I expected. It was an edited version of the script, but I think they managed to get everything important to fit in the allotted time.

This version of the performance included the actors having their scripts in their hands. Sometimes, this got a little distracting and you couldn’t help but think “What would happen if someone lost their place and everything just fell apart?”, but with the seasoned actors involved, this was hardly something to worry about, and eventually, the scripts no longer mattered – the actors pushed through and made themselves and the story the main focus. As far as the acting went, I believe the minimalist set design, costumes, and lighting worked in their favor. I was captivated by the performances, although “Jason” could have eased up on his hyperbolic delivery of lines. All-in-all, however, the performance was honest, and the actors managed to delve into their characters’ emotions, regardless of the fact that their lines weren’t completely memorized. Even when they played two parts, for example, the men in the chorus seamlessly managed to switch back and forth from members of the chorus to other minor characters in the play. Also, even though the stage was small, the actors took advantage of the auditorium and surrounded the audience with the play.

Regarding the creative liberties the director and actor took, especially in the case of using a mask to represent the children, I thought it was completely appropriate, especially because it was a staged reading. The lack of actual children running around on stage allowed us to focus on the main characters, specifically the actress who played Medea. She was brilliant, when she was speaking and even when wasn’t. The emotions portrayed through her facial, physical, and verbal expressions were impeccable, as were those of many of the other actors.

I really enjoyed being able to see a live production of something we read, and I really hope we are able to do such things more in the future.