Apr 27—May 04, 2013
An Iliad
Denis O’Hare and Lisa Peterson
In this acclaimed stage adaptation of Homer’s epic poem, collaborators Denis O’Hare and Lisa Peterson bring the tales of gods, battles, and glory to life and bounce the ancient story off our modern times, examining humanity’s desire for violence and war.
Visionary theatre artists Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare have crafted a sprawling yarn based on Homer’s epic poem in their OBIE-winning collaboration that begs the question: Has anything really changed since the Trojan War? An Iliad spins the familiar tale of gods and goddesses, undying love and endless battles told through the eyes of a single narrator, whose enigmatic experience of the war reverberates with today’s headlines. Peterson’s acclaimed, cutting edge work as a theatre director here combines with O’Hare’s inimitable range as an actor (Tony-winner for Take Me Out, television’s “True Blood”), to create a tour de force performance of this sweeping account of humanity’s unshakeable attraction to violence, destruction and chaos.
Info
Venue
Paramount Center Mainstage
559 Washington St, Boston
“Virtuosic performance…scales the conflict of the Trojan War down to an intimate solo show illuminating both the heroism and horror of warfare.”
— New York Times
“Spellbinding…Smartly conceived and impressively executed, An Iliad relates an age-old story that resonates with tragic meaning today…As he talks about ruined civilizations and how blind rage can overwhelm people whether they are on a battlefield or merely cut off by a car on the highway, the poet asks viewers, ‘Do you see?’ Indeed we do.”
— New York Times
“Mesmerizing…A fascinating picture of the general pointlessness of war down through the centuries.”
— Associated Press