After being betrayed by her husband and banished by the king, Medea turns her heart to stone and crafts a recipe for revenge so deadly and potent that even the fates cannot turn her from this path, nor can the audience turn their eyes away. A Greek tragedy ripped from the ancient stage and presented to your delight and horror, the abridged adaptation of Ben Power’s MEDEA by Songs of the Goat as directed by Michael Chamberlin cries out for vengeance, justice, and unsatisfied pleas for mercy.
Robyn Freeman as Medea was an incredible force of will and vengeance. With towering stage presence and deadly poise coiled into a petite frame, it was hard to tear your eyes away from her.
Also notable in their performances were the heartbroken nurse played by Rachel Manteuffel; the eerie chorus of Elizabeth Pierotti, Sia Li Wright, and Michelle Norris; the painful monologue by the attendant, Joseph Wilson; and the final agony of Jason played by Semaj Kelly. Zach Campion as Kreon, Vincent Brown as Aegeus, Nico Cabrera and Dustin Sardella as the boys, and John Elmendorf as the guard rounded out the rest of the cast and the bloody tale at work. (The 11 actors have all trained at the Studio Acting Conservatory.)
In this creatively mesmerizing staging, from the costumes to well-placed screams, the production standout for me was the incredible use of light and shadow in making the agony of the story larger than life (or rather, death). With a plot dancing between parable and fable, tragedy and nightmare, it’s impossible to not feel fear when a 20-foot shadow looms ahead.
A punch in the stomach of a production, MEDEA by Songs of the Goat is a must-see, but be warned to hold your breath and watch your back. For after silence is darkness. There can be no ending but this.
Running Time: 50 minutes
Genre: Drama
Dates and Times:
- July 20 at 8:35 PM
Venue: Cafritz Hall, 1529 16th St NW
Tickets: $15
More Info and Tickets: Medea
The digital program can be found here.
The complete 2024 Capital Fringe Festival schedule is online here.