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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Mamaí
Theatre Company takes a wild stab at ‘Medea’<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">News-Herald,
Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times Courier<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Member,
International Association of Theatre Critics <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">This
review will appear in the News-Herald</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> on
6/21/13<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>The first
production by a new professional theater company speaks volumes about its
vision, judgment, and threshold for calculated risk.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So the choice of Irish poet and novelist
Brendan Kennelly’s modernized “Medea” by the Mamaí Theatre Company is an
intriguing one. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And its
selection of actress Tracee Patterson in the title role is nothing short of
brilliant.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Mamaí</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: TrebuchetMS; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TrebuchetMS"><FONT
face=Arial>, which is currently sharing space with Ensemble Theatre in Cleveland
Heights, is founded on the mission of creating relevant classical theater that
showcases the stories and the storytelling of
women.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">“Medea,” directed by
company co-founder Bernadette Clemens, certainly fits the bill.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Written by
Euripides </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">around <SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">431
BC,</SPAN></SPAN> this play is the standard-bearer of tragedies that explore the
hellacious fury of a woman scorned.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><SPAN class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Traded in for a younger model by her
husband Jason, Medea flies into fits of rage and engages in a bloody, vengeful
rampage. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Most notably, she stabs to
death her own children. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Arial> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face=Arial>As with
most classic works, many playwrights have re-envisioned this story and have done
so by either embracing, embellishing, or ignoring its classicism.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Kennelly’s translation employs
modern-day references and paints Medea as a metaphor rather than just one really
scary woman.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As such, he
accentuates the play’s political relevance regarding the injustices faced by
women in a patriarchal society.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Arial> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face=Arial>Although
a more contemporary retelling, Kennelly keeps the play grounded in antiquity.
<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There is still the preponderance of
lengthy monologues that unfold in ancient Greek cadence. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There’s still the tradition of having all
the action take place off-stage while it is described, at length, on stage.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And it is still a Greek Chorus that does
most of the describing.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Arial> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face=Arial>While the
playwright appears to be striving for realism, Mamai’s production choices
venture into the surreal and take quite a few liberties by moving the play into
a modern-day context. Though interesting, these choices don’t always jive with
the material.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Arial> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">For example, Trad A Burns’
scenic design consists only of a white picket fence and a plot of shinny green
Astroturf.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Such blatant
oversimplification adds a bizarre, dreamlike quality to the work that makes this
epic </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>play seem small and too confined. </SPAN><SPAN class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal" lang=EN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Arial> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face=Arial>Also
bizarre is the division of the chorus into individual observers -- an alcoholic
neighbor (Jean Cummins), a tabloid news correspondent (Natalie Green), a
Starbucks barista (Sarah Doody), and several attorneys (Anne McEvoy and Stuart
Hoffman) – who provide their respective insights about Medea’s mindset and
tragic plight.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Arial> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face=Arial>Rather
than fading into the background to observe Medea’s antics, these players remain
oddly active and their stage business – which includes the news reporter
constantly primping and posturing – seems disconnected from what should be the
focus of our attention.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Arial> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face=Arial>If all
this is created to serve as a counterpoint to Tracee Patterson’s portrayal of
Medea, it works.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There is nothing
surreal, small, or unfocused about this character.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Arial> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT
face=Arial>Registering at the extreme end of the sliding scale of sanity, as
well as the Richter Scale of intensity, Patterson’s Medea is a voracious,
maniacal man-eater.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She is so
terrifying that even her traumatized crop of blond hair is looking to
escape.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Despite her full-body rage,
there is an underlying intelligence, deliberation and wit that comes through,
which makes her even more terrifying.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>This Medea’s mood swings create
vertigo.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face=Arial>Holding
his own against Medea’s wrath is Jason Kaufman as her husband.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Typically played as an inaccessible ass
or shameless heel, this Jason seems a reasonable sort who admits his digressions
though he by no means apologies for them.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Arial> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face=Arial>When
Medea drags onto the stage her two slaughtered daughters – two of Mamai’s most
interesting and daring choices are the physical appearance of the dead children
(Grace Hoy and Julia Ashkettle) and casting the children as daughters rather
than sons – Kaufman’s shock is all-encompassing and quite powerful.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT face=Arial>All the
players in this production – including Mary Jane Nottage as Nurse, Robert Hawkes
as Creon, Joseph Milan as Aegeus, and Annie Schiferl as Teacher – do a nice job
of lending support to the storytelling in general and Medea’s madness in
particular.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
class=MsoHyperlink><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT
face=Arial> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">For a first
production by a new theater company, this one is impressive. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If “Medea” is an example of the
femme-forward thinking to come, then Mamai will be a welcome addition to the
local theater community.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Though not
all of its creative risks pay off in this production, risk-taking is a fine hook
on which to hang one’s hat. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">“Medea” continues
through August 4 at <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">2843 Washington
Blvd., Cleveland Hts</SPAN>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>For tickets, which range from $10 to $20,</SPAN></I><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN> visit</SPAN></I><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
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lang=EN> </SPAN></I><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1155cd; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><A
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href="http://www.mamaitheatreco.org/home/buyticketssubscribe">www.mamaitheatreco.org/home/</SPAN></A></SPAN></I><I
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