The Trojan Women

As part of its ‘Countdown to 100 Years’ Alumnae Theatre Company is proud to present celebrated Canadian poet Gwendolyn MacEwen’s haunting translation of Euripides’ classic tragedy The Trojan Women, last performed by the company in the 1992/3 season. In 1978, MacEwen breathed a contemporary spirit into Euripides’ classic text with her bold exploration of feminist ideals. In 2012, director Alexandra Seay (Lincoln Center Theatre Directors Lab member) asks who the women are who live beneath the shadow of men today and strives to give them a voice. You probably know the basic story of the Trojan War: according to myth, it all started with a celestial pissing contest - some gods were annoyed that they weren't invited to a wedding, blah blah blah. Paris, the prince of Troy, was selected to judge which of three goddesses (Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite) was the fairest. So of course each goddess promised Paris a reward if he if he chose her. Ignoring promises of wealth and power from Hera and Athena, Paris chose Aphrodite (goddess of love), who promised him the most beautiful woman in the world. That would be Helen. Wee problem: she was already married to Menelaus, the king of Sparta. Paris proceeded to abduct Helen, and her furious husband called in a favour from all her old suitors to join him in going to war against Troy. They won; Troy lost. Euripides' play is set in the aftermath of the Trojan War, when abandoned by the gods, the women of Troy try to find meaning in the destruction surrounding them as they wait to be claimed by their Greek masters. CAST: Andrea Blakey - Chorus Stephanie Carpanini - Chorus Sochi Fried - Cassandra (Hecuba’s daughter) - Jan 20-27 Carys Lewis - Chorus (Jan 28 - Feb 4) Andrew P. MacMaster - Poseidon (sea god); Talthybius (Greek messenger) Suzette McCanny - Chorus (Jan 20-27); Cassandra (Jan 28 - Feb 4) Scott Moore - Menelaus (King of Sparta, Helen's husband) Katie Ribout - Chorus Anne Shepherd - Chorus Nicole St. Martin - Andromache (Hecuba’s daughter-in-law) Molly Thom - Hecuba (Queen of Troy) Susan Q Wilson - Chorus Leader Tara Zacharias - Helen of Troy. DIRECTOR - Alexandra Seay PRODUCERS - PJ Hammond, Tabitha Keast STAGE MANAGER - Margot Devlin SET & PROPS DESIGN - Karen Elizabeth McMichael MUSIC DIRECTOR - Lily Ling LIGHTING DESIGN - Jennifer Fraser COSTUME DESIGN - Peter DeFreitas Website: www.alumnaetheatre.com Performances: January 20 - February 4, 2012 Wed - Sat at 8pm; Sun at 2pm Talkback following matinee on Jan 29. Tickets: 2-for-1 Wed; $20 Thu/Fri/Sat; PWYC Sun. E-mail reservations to reservations@alumnaetheatre.com or phone 416-364-4170 box 1. 70 Berkeley Street