Cleveland Play House’s production of ‘An Iliad’ is in itself a modern epic
As Cleveland braced for its first major snow storm of 2019, the theater faithful filed into the Outcalt Theatre at Playhouse Square nearly filling it to capacity. At first glance it did not seem to be an exceptional show being offered. An Iliad by Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare being billed as “...a single poet and her muse, a cellist, perform an adaptation of Homer’s work.” It is directed by Tarah Flanagan and Andrew Carlson.
The set by Ian Stillman consists of a bare stage save for a tall wooden ladder and a cinder block wall at whose base is a floor broom, dustpan, hand broom and sorry looking metal garbage can. In strides Tara Flanagan* wearing an aviators cap with goggles and a military style overcoat under which peeks a shirt and chain mail skirt. She carries an ancient leather carry bag from which she draws out a bottle of red sand which she pours in a line on the stage floor. This is the parapet of the city of Troy and the ladder becomes the high tower from which the royal family can view the battlefield that extends all the way to the ocean beach.
*Member of Actors Equity Association
Flanagan is soon joined by her muse and cellist (Eva Rose Scholz-Carlson) and with the same kind of frenetic energy found with Jodie Whittaker of Dr. Who fame launches into an extremely understandable version of this epic poem. As the show progresses, Tara loses the coat, shirt and chain mail skirt to reveal a Greek chiton. She also pulls out a bottle of “Aphrodite Tequila” (or as she puts it “her spirit”) which she drinks during the monologue.
We are soon introduced to Achilles, Aeneas, Agamemnon, Andromache, Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Hector, Helen, Hephaestus, Hera, Odysseus, Paris, Patroclus, Thetis and Zeus as Tara “sings” through the tale of Greek gods and humans and the battles between them.
This is more than just a recitation of an ancient work that most of us had to grind through in high school. Flanagan gives names and personality to these long forgotten heroes and villains. Then she goes one step farther. She relates the Trojan war to each and every war that followed it giving individual names to the bullet riddled bodies lying in No Man’s Land in World War I. As she recites each and every major conflict since the Greeks landed on the shores of Troy the theater grew absolutely silent. As she paused at the end of this long recited list sobs could be heard from various corners of the audience. This...Is...Theater!
Flanagan uses every inch of stage and much of the theater during the show charging up the steep steps to illustrate a point in the poem. She engages with individuals in the audience by sitting next to them, gets group participation by relating all the small towns and big cities soldiers would come from in America to give us a feel of where the forces came from to form the Greek army. She divides the audience in half to cheer for the Trojan and Greek heroes. In essence, you the audience member, becomes a part of the show.
At times Flanagan gets so wrapped up in the poem (especially the battle scenes) you find yourself mentally checking your shirt for signs of blood spatter from the slaughtered enemy. It is truly some of the most intense just under two hours (without intermission) that you will ever experience in live theater. There is some adult language and the subject matter is quite intense so it may not be suitable for children or those sensitive to such things.
Take an epic poem, translate it into modern vernacular, relate it to situations that have been going on since time immemorial, add dashes of humor, the unworldly sounds of a cello, the sheer theatrical power of one tremendous actress and you have indeed a modern epic that will in itself go down through the ages.
The Cleveland Play House production of An Iliad will be on stage in the Outcalt Theatre at Playhouse Square through February 10, 2019. Tickets may be purchased onliine at www.playhousesquare.org or by phone by calling (216) 214-6000 or by stopping by the Playhouse Square Box Office located in the outer lobby of the State Theatre.