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REVIEW: Trojan Women a brilliant downer at the Phoenix

UVic theatre program does a good job interpreting Greek tragedy, wrtes Sheila Martindale
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Cassandra (Emma Newton) is struck by a vision of disaster and shipwrecks as her mother, Queen Hecuba (Sarah Hunsberger) and the other women of Troy (front to back: Elena Kellis, Una Rekic, Eva Hocking, Julie McGuire) comfort her. Euripides’ classic Greek anti-war play, Trojan Women , runs at the Phoenix Theatre at UVic until Feb. 23. Photo by Dean Kalyan

By Sheila Martindale

Monday Magazine theatre reviewer

Some might talk about Greek tragedy as an acquired taste, that 100 minutes of weeping and wailing is, after all, a bit much.

With Trojan Women, the current University of Victoria Theatre Department offering, we should instead talk about the intense and brilliant acting of these enthusiastic young people, or the amazing use of the stage space at the Phoenix Theatre.

Sarah Hunsberger, in the role of Queen Hecuba, is particularly good, and one can’t help thinking how exhausted she must be by the end of each passionate performance.

In her notes in the program, director Jan Wood says this play by Euripedes is “a testament to the ability of the human spirit to withstand cruelty inflicted upon others in the name of war, greed, lust, vengeance, envy, intolerance, fear.” That pretty well sums up the tone and content of this play.

But don’t be put off by the fact that you may feel depressed or miserable at the end of the performance. Go for the enjoyment of such a lot of talent in one place; go to support and encourage our university professors in what they do to promote excellence in all aspects of theatre; go to experience of a play of a different nature.

Tickets and other information on for Trojan Women are available online or you can call the box office to reserve seats at 250-721-8000. The play runs now until Feb. 23.



editor@mondaymag.com

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As the city of Troy burns, Hecuba (Sarah Hunsberger) and the women of Troy (left to right: Grace Fedorchuk, Elena Kellis, Hailee Friesen, Una Rekic, Julie McGuire, Eva Hocking, Arielle Parsons) embrace their horrible fate and walk towards the waiting ships. Euripides’ classic Greek anti-war play, Trojan Women , runs at the Phoenix Theatre at UVic until Feb. 23. Photo by Dean Kalyan