Greek Tragedy-Inspired 'Exiles' to Play LaMaMa in March

Acclaimed puppet artist and director Theodora Skipitares presents The Exiles--a new adaptation of the Orestes/Electra myth about a brother and sister who avenge the murder of their father and become outcasts in their own city--at La MaMa Annex (74A East 4th Street) with previews beginning March 22, prior to an official opening on March 25.

Designed, directed and adapted by Skipitares (Trilogy at LaMaMa), the production is produced by LaMaMa E.T.C. and Skysaver Productions.

The Exiles tells the tale of Orestes and Electra, siblings who execute a grisly plot of vengeance against their mother, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus, for the horrific murder of their father, Agamemnon, upon his return from the Trojan War.

"Based on Euripides' Orestes, and inspired by John Paul Sartre's The Flies, The Exiles unfolds using video projections, masks and puppetry--including five-foot Bunraku puppets strapped to the front of actors' bodies at the head, the chest, the waist and the knees. Veiled actors speak lines from behind the puppet, much as an actor might have spoken lines from behind a large Greek mask in ancient Greek theatre," state press materials.

Nicky Paraiso--winner of New York Innovative Theatre Awards for his performance in Ms. Skipitares' Iphigenia and for his solo play House/Boy--leads the ensemble as Orestes. Sonja Perryman, who played the title role in Iphigenia, costars as Electra. The cast also includes Sheila Dabney, Chris Maresca, Alissa Mello, Aneesh Sheth and Amanda Villalobos.

The show features an original musical score by Tim Schellenbaum, lighting design by Pat Dignan and video by Kay Hines. The puppets are designed by Cecilia Schiller and Ms. Skipitares.

Performances of The Exiles run March 22-April 8 at La MaMa Annex (74A East 4th Street), Thursdays-Sundays at 7:30pm, and Sundays at 2:30pm. Tickets are $18; call 212-475-7710 or visit www.lamama.org.