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<H2 style="MARGIN: auto 0in"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">‘Medea ‘ is ‘riveting’ on Actors’
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Summit</st1:place></st1:City>
stage<o:p></o:p></SPAN></H2>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text36><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">By David Ritchey
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><SPAN
class=text81><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">HUDSON</SPAN></SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN
class=text81><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"> — Revenge is
best served cold ... or so the legend goes. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text81><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">But in “Medea,” revenge is served
hot. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text81><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Euripides wrote “Medea,” which is
on stage at Actors’ Summit Theater through Nov. 4. This local production is the
translation and adaptation by Robinson Jeffers (1887-1962), and this is the
edition many of us studied in school. Yet, when brought to the stage, this is
nothing like what I saw in my mind’s eye when I read the script. I’ve seen
“Medea” on the stage several times, and the Actors’ <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Summit</st1:place></st1:City> production is the
most riveting production of “Medea” I’ve seen. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text81><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">This production has several things
going for it. First, Jeffers’ adaptation and translation makes the Greek tragedy
accessible to the audience. Every plot point is easily understood.
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text81><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Second, Neil Thackaberry (director
and lighting design) brings the story directly to the audience. The members of
the audience cannot look away or avoid what is happening on the stage.
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text81><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">The story concerns the perfect
marriage of Medea (Sally Groth) and Jason (Daniel Taylor). They have two
children (Mika Takahashi and Kai Takahashi). However, Jason takes a fancy to the
daughter of Creon (David McNees), the ruler, and thinks marriage with Creon’s
daughter will lead him to wealth and power and make him the ruler. So Jason
deserts Medea. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text81><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Medea grows mad at Jason’s
unfaithfulness. She plots revenge, and her revenge is not served cold. Medea
makes revenge white hot and flaming. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text81><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">In the style of the Greek tragedy,
the audience is told about the revenge, since Medea’s revenge could not be
staged. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text81><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Medea is cared for by her nurse
(Paula Duesing), who gives her advice and </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class=text32><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">attempts to help her get past her
grief at the loss of Jason and the destruction of their home. But the nurse can
only vaguely imagine that Medea is capable of revenge. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text32><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Groth has appeared in almost 20
productions at Actors’ <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Summit</st1:place></st1:City>. In this production, she comes into her
own as one of the most powerful actresses in this area. The audience can watch
her slowly go mad and commit unthinkable acts to make her revenge possible.
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text32><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Groth has a beautiful speaking
voice that has a wide range. She can easily move from her happy and bright upper
registers to a threatening, frightening lower register. In this production, she
extends her arms to embrace the women of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Corinth</st1:place></st1:City> and clasp them to her. She prowls the
stage like a tiger, ready to pounce and dish out major servings of revenge.
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text32><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">This Medea is beautiful, coy,
flirtatious and dangerous. She comments several times that she knows how to mix
powerful potions and she knows curses. Jason never took her powers seriously.
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><SPAN
class=text32><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Taylor</SPAN></SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN
class=text32><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"> makes Jason
almost naïve. This Jason thinks Medea will be happy that he has come into a
fortune, although this is accomplished by deserting his wife and marrying
another woman. Jason lets his life slowly slip away without realizing that he
will bring Medea’s revenge on himself. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text32><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Duesing, again, is a pleasure to
watch as she paces the stage providing the exposition and plotting ways to
rescue Medea from her pain of separation from Jason. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text32><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Mika, 8, and Kai, 5, Takahashi are
believable as the children of Jason and Medea. Audiences should look forward to
watching these young performers develop their acting skills over the years.
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text32><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">The cast is excellent. The leading
roles easily become the most obvious. However, Scott Thomas (the slave) only has
a short scene yet makes the terrors he has seen visible to the audience.
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text32><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">MaryJo Alexander (costumes and
props) dressed the cast in traditional Greek costumes. The women of <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Corinth</st1:place></st1:City> are in shades of
black and gray. The nurse is in burgundy and black. Medea is in a blood-red
gown, decorated with gold trim, and she wears plenty of gold jewelry. Alexander
provides enough variety to make each character visually distinct.
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text32><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">“Medea” plays for only about 100
minutes, without an intermission. Yet this is long enough to make revenge both
hot and cold. This stunning production demands our attention.
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text32><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">For tickets, call (330) 342-0800.
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN class=text9><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">David Ritchey has a Ph.D. in
communications and is a professor of communications at The University of Akron.
He is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association. </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
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