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Troilus and Cressida
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Barbara Gaines
At Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Navy Pier
Chicago, IL
Call 312-595-5600, tickets $50 - $67
Tuesdays at 7:30 pm
Wednesdays at 1 & 7:30 pm
Thursdays at 7:30 pm
Fridays at 7:30 pm
Saturdays at 3 & 8 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Running time is 3 hours, 10 minutes with intermission
Through June 24, 2007
Spectacular epic production propels passionate Greek myth
Marking two decades of outstanding creative achievements, director Barbara Gaines has mounted one of the most exuberant spectacles seen on any Chicago stage in years at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Featuring Nan Cibula-Jenkins’ ancient Greek styled costumes, Michael Philippi’s unique sets on Robert Wierzel’s powerful lights with Lindsay Jones’ sound design and composer George Stiles original music, Troilus and Cressida has the look and feel of an epic Greek saga. The excellent fight scenes from fight choreographer Robin McFarquhar together with the sexy love making views give this rarely produced Shakespeare play a grand theatrical experience that overwhelms the senses.
The stellar cast of 23 engaged this Greek mythological sage of love, war and betrayal with a most exuberant passion seldom witnessed. Barbara Gaines has her visual, audio creative senses working overtime as she gives this fast-paced, well acted saga an immediacy that compels us into the fascinating world of Greek tales of war between Greece and Troy. This love story has Troilus (the charismatic Kevin O’Donnell and the beautiful Chaon Cross as Cressida as the doomed lovers caught in a struggle of honor, duty and true love.
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After seven years of war, few care about its original cause—the abduction of Helen by the Trojan prince—with each side consumed by infighting. Against this backdrop of intrigue, Troilus and Cressida’s doomed love is, like so many others, destroyed by circumstance and deceit. Shakespeare’s retelling of the Trojan War has a darker and more disoriented story line than his other works. The Bard attacks war, romance, honor and male archetypes This is my first viewing of Troilus and Cressida and I must admit the plot is dense and a tad wordy. The exquisite production values gave the show immense clarity.
Filled with the Iliad’s players, Achilles (Bruce A. Young), Ulysses (Greg Vinkler), Hector (Mark L. Montgomery), Agamemnon (Scott Jaeck) and Ajax (John Timothy McFarland) together with comic characters such as Thersites (the hilarious Ross Lehman) and the funny Pandarus (the marvelous Stephen Ouimette), Troilus and Cressida has all the elements of a theatrical gem.
Kevin O’Donnell and Chaon Cross are sensual lovers as the title characters. While the machismo of both the Trojans and the Greeks are seen through the warriors stripping to their loin cloths in sweaty combat scenes, this love story is filled with romance, smart dialogue and witty language befitting Shakespeare’s style. Mark L. Montgomery’s Hector, Lea Coco’s Paris, Scott Jaeck’s Agmemnon and John Timothy McFarland’s Ajax lead the charge of bravura climaxing in several amazing battle scenes. Greg Vinkler gave Ulysses a different twist and Bruce A. Young demonstrated Achilles gay side.
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The play demands our full concentration and can be confusing, but the staging, the battles and the sheer energy kept us fascinated and a bit overwhelmed. This epic has passion and loads of heart. Act two unfolds as an action packed adventure worthy of the heroics of the Trojan War it aptly depicts. This is a highly stylized theatrical treat that will thoroughly amaze you. Kudos to Barbara Gaines for this triumph. I’ll not soon forget Troilus and Cressida.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2007
Jeff Recommended
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