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Theatre Thu Mar 04 2010
Agamemnon @ Dream Theatre Company
Agon is a Greek word for conflict, or as Dream Theatre artistic director Jeremy Menekseoglu puts it: "The Argument." This month, the company will be opening Agamemnon, the first play in Menekseoglu's Agon Trilogy. The trilogy is a riff on Aeschylus' classic Oresteia, the Greek epic chronicling Agamemnon's death by his wife's hand upon his return from the Trojan War, and the revenge sought by his children, Orestes and Electra. Menekseoglu's retelling seeks to broaden these worlds by digging into the unexplored nooks of each story.
Set "in a nowhere time reminiscent of the 20's and 40's," his Agamemnon begins in the days leading up to Aeschylus' story, following the King as he discovers and imprisons Cassandra, the Trojan Princess with a clairvoyant streak. What follows, according to Menekseoglu, who also stars in the production, "is a harrowing story of betrayal, barbarity and banishment to the monkey house." Sounds rife with agon to me.
The play opens Thursday, March 11 and runs through Sunday, April 11, at Dream Theatre (556 W 18th St.). Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 7pm. Tickets are $15 - $18 and can be reserved by visiting online or by calling 773-552-8616.
Electra, the second play in the trilogy, opens May 6 and Orestes, the final play, opens July 8. Reserve now. If you miss the first one, how will you ever catch up?