Empowered Women: #MeToo in Greek Tragedy

Men dominated the world of Greek tragedy as playwrights, actors, and spectators. But if ancient Greek drama addresses issues that are usually male related (heroes and rulers involved in conflicts, politics, and war), it is left to female characters, despite their marginalized position in society, to question, challenge, and even disrupt the social, cultural, and political norms set up by their male counterparts.

Medea is a scorned and betrayed woman/wife and resorts to sorcery (another marginal activity) to concoct her escape and revenge. Carey Perloff directs a rehearsed reading of Euripides’ Medea to examine the unpalatable truths about humanity which continue to confront us, and the ways in which the worst can overtake the best in people when the situation is extreme enough.

Cast

Margo Hall ............................. Nurse
Giles Havergal ........................ Tutor
Brenda Meaney ....................... Medea
Delia MacDougal ...................... Chorus
Aldo Billingslea ....................... Creon
Dan Clegg ............................. Jason
Jason Kapoor ......................... Aegeus/Messenger

Music by David Coulter

This program is underwritten by Bernard and Jane von Bothmer.