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Masthead
A CurtainUp Review
Electra In A One-Piece
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I don't know what to do! I went to the pool and Dad was in it and he was dead!- .— Elle
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Erika Rolfsrud(photo Sam Hough)
(Photo: )
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The story is set in present-day Greenwich, Connecticut at a posh home complete with a swimming pool and patio in the backyard. When the action beginss, Elle (Amanda Scot Ellis) has just discovered that her mother Clyt (Erika Rolfsrud) has murdered her adulterous father Non (Michael Brusasco) and his girlfriend, and is burying them in the backyard. Devastated, Elle reaches for her video camera, videotapes the grisly scene and posts it on YouTube. Although her real intention is to alert her brother Ore (Chris Bannow) stationed in Iraq, the videotape goes viral and Elle is inundated with comments from shocked viewers.
Once Clyt learns that her crime has been exposed to the masses by Elle, she decides to outdo her daughter with a series of her own YouTube videos. To add to the hoopla, a slick television producer (Michael Brusasco) arrives at their home to parlay a deal with Elle (a hit show featuring her), which would further broadcast the blood-bath. Clyt is anxious about the producer's presence, but she is distracted by her sexy young "Jersey Shore" boyfriend Thus (Austin Mitchell).
Celebrity is a central theme here, and one of the ways that it is played out is with "talking"bedroom posters of Jude Law (Chris Bannow), Justin Timberlake (Austin Mitchell), and Zac Efron (Ian McWethy). Acting as the Greek chorus, these male mega-stars engage Elle in dialogue from the getgo, and continually advise her on how to navigate her family crisis. The spunky Elle, determined not to become a victim of her dysfunctional family, listens to their collective advice, and mostly follows their savvy suggestions.
Much of all this is a biting send-up of the original legend. And at times it is so funny that you will almost forget that you are watching a Greek tragedy unfold, albeit in a modern-day version. Not all the jokes land, but Elle and Clyt compensate for the script's flaws with their intense personalities and witticisms.
Helmed by David Ruttura, the pace is leisurely even though the language is terse. Ruttura has everything moving steadily through Act 1, but as the story gets increasingly tangled in Act 2, he loses some of the dramatic momentum. Even if you allow that all these characters need a chance to wrestle with their demons, the denouement runs on too long.
Does Electra in a One-Piece do full justice to the original Greek legend? No. Ore, who is the Orestes figure in this story, departs markedly from his Greek prototype, especially in its later scenes.
As for the performances, Erika Rolfsrud as Clyt embodies the murderer, seductress, and emotionally-torn mother during the evening. No easy task, but she manages to rise to each dramatic moment. The 8-member cast's acting overall is excellent.
This may not be the first retooling of Greek tragedies but Oliver's media and internet additions certainly makes the House of Atreus come alive in a pertinent manner. Crossing the old myth with the internet's culture and patois makes for a winning show.
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Electra In A One-Piece Written by Isaac Oliver Directed by David Ruttura Cast: Chris Bannow (Jude Law and Ore), Austin Mitchell (Justin Timberlake and Thus), Ian McWethy (Zac Efron and Lad), Amanda Scot Ellis (Elle), Erika Rolfsrud (Clyt), Melanie Hopkins (Ethel, Dr. Hamilton, and Patrice), Matt Park (Rhoda and Paul), Michael Brusasco (Buddy Cox and Non). Sets: Kenneth Grady Barker Costumes: Moria Sine Clinton Sound: Jason Crystal Lighting: Paul Toben and Jeremy Cunningham Music: Ryan Scott Oliver Projections: Dustin O'Neill Fight Director: Rick Sordeiet Stage Manager: Allison Deutsch At the Wild Project at 195 East 3rd Street Tickets: $18. Phone 866/811-4111 or online at www.TheWildProject.com From 10/28/10; opening 11/01/10; closing 11/14/10. Wednesday through Saturday @ 8pm, Sunday @ 3pm Running time: 2 hours, with a 10-minute intermission. Reviewed by Deirdre Donovan based on November 1st press performance |
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In the Heights
