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.