Taking a Greek comedy and attracting a student audience is a tough task, but the director and cast of Aristophanes’ “Lysistrata” have done an excellent job.
When the curtain rises, the audience members are taken back 2500 years ago to ancient Greece, and we find out that the nations of Athens, Boeotia, Corinth and Sparta are locked in a bitter civil war. The Moorpark College Theater Arts department’s interpretation led by Director John Loprieno does a good job of making the ancient play relevant as well as keeping the themes of Aristophanes.
The play begins with a monologue from the lead character Lysistrata, played by Brooke Fiss or Sarah Schindler, depending on which night you go. That fact makes for the largest blunder. Both actresses are amazing in their roles, and as a director you want to get as many people involved, which is why you double cast something. However, for an audience member, you either have to go twice to the show, or leave wondering if you saw the funnier cast, or the better cast, or even wondering what the other cast is like.
Loprieno took advantage of some of the great voices in his cast, and added a few musical numbers, which added a nice touch. Blaire Strong led the singing chorus of Oracles and has a beautiful tone that fills the auditorium with musical bliss.
As the play begins, we find out that the women of Greece are banning together to withhold cuddling, kissing, felatio and sex from the men to encourage them to bring peace to their nation. The women swear an oath on a falic-linned bowl and hold to it. In the process, the women torment the men of Greece by taking over the Acropolis and tempting the men without giving in.
The guys of the cast do a great job showing their frustration, and could have done without the four-foot dildos protruding from their boxers. They were good for a laugh, but the men of the cast including Dan Rosales and Dave Wright who have an especially intimate scene involving the giant penises, wear their blue-balls on their sleeves for everyone to see.
The lighting and sound design were well coordinated, and although there weren’t many cues, there were no issues. The set was a well-constructed masterpiece, an overwhelming labyrinth that didn’t get stale like some other one-set shows.
If you’re under 14, this show will be the shock of your life, and you may have questions for your mom and dad including, “why was the lady stroking the man’s purple thing?”
However, for those of age to see R-rated movies, you are in store for one of the best shows of your life, and by far the best Greek play out there. The acting is magnificent and the story zooms right along, leaving the viewer sad after 90 minutes that the fun is wrapping up.
Go to StudentVoiceOnline.com for a video and a slideshow of the actor’s processes from make up to clean up.
