A classic ancient Greek tale of murder and revenge will unfold as the Department of Theatre and Dance presents its production of Sophocles’ “Electra.”
The production opens in Bartlett Theatre at Rockefeller Arts Center on Friday, Feb. 19 at 8 p.m. Additional performances will take place on Saturday, Feb. 20; Thursday, Feb. 25; Friday, Feb. 26 and Saturday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m.
Directing the Mainstage production will be James Ivey, professor of acting and directing at SUNY Fredonia.
Set a few years after the Trojan War, this tragedy by Sophocles follows the character Electra as she and her twin brother, Orestes, seek vengeance for the murder of their father, King Agamemnon.
Complicating matters is the fact that it was Electra’s own mother, Clytemnestra, who plotted the murder. Undeterred, Electra helps carry out a plan that will punish the murders and allow Orestes to claim his rightful throne.
The Department of Theatre and Dance production is based upon a 1997 adaption by Frank McGuinness. Premiered at the Donmar Warehouse in London, this production of “Electra” moved to Broadway for a successful limited run. With contemporary language that retains the integrity of Sophocles’ poetry, the department’s production of “Electra” will embrace a contemporary aesthetic sensibility.
Creating the stage environment for the Mainstage production will be student designer Colin Chauche doing the scenery and lighting.
Ivey said he will “guide the student cast of actors with careful attention to the spoken word while maintaining a strong sense of the physical action."
For those interested in learning more about the behind-the-scenes aspects of the production, there will be both pre- and post-show discussions after selected performances of “Electra.”
Pre-show discussions will be held on Feb. 19, 25 and 26 in the Art Gallery lobby. The discussions will offer information on the play itself and some of the production methods.
Post-show “talk-backs” will be held Feb. 19 and 26 in the theatre. These sessions will give audience members an opportunity to discuss the production with the actors, designers and technicians..
“Electra” is sponsored by Niebel Realty as part of the Lake Shore Savings Season. Tickets are available through the SUNY Fredonia Ticket Office in the Williams Center, by phone at 716-673-3501 (1-866-441-4928) or online at www.fredonia.edu/tickets.
