An Imaginative Argonautika
Shakespeare Theater's production of Argonautika is one of the most visually-stunning works we've seen in quite some time on the D.C. stage. And it's not just something pretty - director Mary Zimmerman, who also wrote the piece, has taken a wholly imaginative approach to representing this somewhat familiar Greek tale of hubris, adventure and tragedy.
The Argonautika is a journey tale, like many Greek myths. Our hero Jason is nephew to Pelias, who has a tenuous grasp on his throne and feels threatened that Jason will usurp it. To keep him out of his hair, he sends Jason and a group of warriors (with familiar figures like Hercules and Atlanta among them - one of the play's funniest moment is when Jason's crew introduces themselves in a rap-style rhyming "roll call") on a quest for a golden fleece. Naturally, this quest has obstacles.
Zimmerman's vision translates into a lot of exciting things to watch on stage, whether it's actors suddenly transforming into constellations with the help of Christmas lights and wires, or a sea monster emerging from a gyrating green blanket thanks merely to an actor plopping on a set of googly eyes. The whimsical touches can make the show almost feel like a children's bedtime story at times, though the dialog and material is much more mature than that.
The tone of the play is casual and funny - slang expressions like "Oh, yes he DID!" are prevalent. The accessible script combined with the brilliant visuals make the ancient myth seem like an entirely new work. The second act does take on a more solemn tone - this story, after all, is the one that ends with the doomed relationship between Jason and Medea, one of history's most tragic figures. But the adjustment happens naturally, and ads a turn of poignancy to the work.
The performances in Argonautika are largely more workhorse than standout, though Sofia Jean Gomez makes for a particularly formidable Athena, and Allen Gilmore a crazily insecure Pelias. But in this production, the actors serve more as marionettes for Zimmerman to act out her creative concepts, and that's a perfectly respectful calling for such an impressive vision.
The Argonautika runs through March 2 at Shakespeare's Lansburgh Theater. Tickets are available online.