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Volume 38 Issue 2
September 19, 2000

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‘Lysistrata’ cast has high hopes for racy, R-rated Greek comedy

BY JORDAN CURRIER
MESA LEGEND
Submitted September 19, 2000

Melody King is one of many Theatre Outback students who are pleased to produce a play that not only pushes the envelope but pushes the limits of controversy.

“I think he’s making it very loud and big and colorful and just out there,” said King of Sandy Elias’ vision for “Lysistrata,” Theatre Outback’s forthcoming fall play.

Jan Ristedt/MESA LEGEND

Eric Holmes (above) livens up the first rehearsal of “Lysistrata” Sep. 5. The cast introduced themselves and made script changes. Holmes will play the part of Koryphais in the play. Smiling Holmes on is Lori Rogers, who will play the part of Kleonike.

King is the “Lysistrata” stage manager and choreographer and is excited about the play, an R-rated production that many cast members are calling both funny and controversial.

“The theme of this play is that the women are going to stop the war by not having sex with their husbands,” said director Elias. “It’s one of the first political comedies.”

“Lysistrata” is a comedic war satire written by Greek playwright Arostophanes in 411 BC.

The original version was written to satirize the Peloponnesian War. But Elias is updating the script to suit a modern audience.

“We’re not doing it in togas and Greek costumes and masks,” Elias said. “Lysistrata herself will be a female boxer; the Athenian commissioner will be a male boxer; the young Athenian women will all be cheerleaders; the young soldiers will all be baseball players; and the older people are going to be fanatic sports fans.

“It’s pretty racy,” Elias said. “The language is racy, the theme. It’s not filth, obviously. We wouldn’t do that on a college campus.

“But if the arts don’t broaden our outlook on life, they’re not really doing their job.”

Jan Ristedt/MESA LEGEND

Lyn Dutson carefully takes James Grass’s (right) measurements at the reahearsal for costumes. Each cast member was measured at the rehearsal.

On Sept. 5, the  cast for “Lysistrata” convened in the Green Room of the Theatre Outback building to do their first read-through of the script, stopping to laugh, take notes and make script changes. The cast for “Lysistrata,” diverse in both theater experience and age, also introduced themselves and got measurements taken for costumes.

“It’s my first show here at MCC,” said Krishelle Whiting, who is playing the role of Ismenia. “I’m a little bit nervous — more excited than nervous.”

Eric Holmes was much more comfortable during the read-through, as he has extensive stage experience with MCC. “This is the only class I’ve ever had where people talk,” Holmes said. “Nobody hides behind the veil of coolness.”

Holmes is pleased that a play dealing with such controversial themes is receiving full support from MCC.

“We have a liberal theater department. Unfortunately, we have a conservative audience. That creates conflict.”

Daryl Scherrer, who will double as an actor and lyricist for the play, is eager to participate in a production that brings out his own “sense of humor and sense of extremely bad taste.”

Elias didn’t mince words when he spoke about his approach to casting. He calls it a “commercial approach.”

“They have to be attractive, end of discussion,” Elias said. “That’s the way it is in professional theater. Now, obviously I’m doing a college play. I take preference, and I’m very proud of this, to kids that go to school here.”

Elias, who has several decades of theater experience under his belt, is eager to prepare the cast and crew of “Lysistrata” for the play’s mid-October release.  The director is equally anxious to share his love of the craft with his students.

“I think theater is not just entertainment. I think it’s something very central to the core of our being,” Elias said. “There’s something about us as human beings — it fulfills us.”

“Lysistrata” will run Oct. 12-14 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 15 at 2 p.m. For ticket information call Theatre Outback’s box office at 461-7170.

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