‘The House of Atreus’

“The House of Atreus,” an adaptation of Greek tragedies by D. Lance Marsh, is being performed at Burg Theatre at the Oklahoma City University. The adaptation by Marsh, a professor and head of performance at Oklahoma City University Theatre, draws from “The Oresteia” by Aeschylus, Euripides’ “Electra” and Sophocles’ “Electra.”

The adaptation has two parts, each with two acts. The first two acts detail the story of Agamemnon and daughter Iphigenia. Agamemnon is King of Mycenae and his brother, Menelaus, is King of Sparta. Coincidentally, they have married sisters. Clytemnestra is wife to Agamemnon and Helen is wife to Menelaus. Helen is abducted by Paris, setting off the Trojan War. Agamemnon aids his brother in the 10-year battle against Troy by following the dictates of an oracle and sacrificing his eldest daughter Iphigenia. Clytemnestra is appalled and unable to forgive her husband.

Part Two of “The House of Atreus” concerns Electra, a younger daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, and her brother Orestes, son of the royal couple. The Trojan War has ended and Agamemnon returns home. Clytemnestra greets him with rage and vows his death. Electra blames her mother for all her family problems and idolizes her father. After Agamemnon’s death, Electra dreams of the return of her brother, who was sent away as a youngster by the family for protection. Orestes returns, promising to avenge his father’s death by killing his mother.

Although the entire story is told over two nights, each part can stand alone. The curse that follows the House of Atreus with revenge killing after revenge killing must ultimately be solved by the gods. Twelve people must eventually determine the fates of each survivor. The adaptation ties these ancient Greek tragedies together with a modern perspective and modern language using costumes, language and attitudes from many eras in a rather hodgepodge fashion.

Marsh directs Part Two and a guest director, Leslie Swackhamer, directs Part One. The casts for both parts consist of an extremely talented group of young people who demonstrate dedication to their craft.

There are four Clytemnestras. The most notable is played by Olivia Cinquepalmi, whose seductive facade entices Agamemnon to his dismal fate. Dylan S. Mobley as Agamemnon and Harrison Langford as Menelaus are kings in a male-dominated society, yet they seem perplexed and ungainly against the canny machinations of their wives.

Tyra Bullock as Electra begins Part Two in a boiling rage which she maintains throughout the long two acts. The strident emotional pitch written into the script gives little to build upon and her performance displays her fortitude rather than her obvious acting skill. Preston Chapman is Orestes and he has more opportunity to vary his pitch and emotional intensity. Eliza Hare is an exotic prophetess in a costume more Polynesian than Peloponnesian. Isaiah Williams is the Watchman and servant to the Atreus household, and his interpretation is refreshingly real. The entire student cast indicates great potential and solid talent to the credit of their teachers and the directing of Marsh and Swackhamer. It is the interpretation and unabated intensity that diminishes the performances.

The set is very good and scenic artist Claire Police deserves accolades alongside technical director Tucker Irey. The costumes designed by Rachel Barnett in Part One and Becca Bailey in Part Two are variable in period but only somewhat appropriate. Some are exquisite and fitting, while others have different materials sewn together that do not drape well, creating an awkward, uncomfortable spectacle.

Both evenings are rather long, but the set does showcase the skill and talent of the students. These young people deserve high praise for their efforts and stamina.