Review: First Stage Young Company Presents Stunning, Superb ANTIGONE

Antigone--an ancient play first written by Sophocles in approximately 400 B.C.--challenges audiences in the 21st century and centers around strong women, political drama, and difficult moral choices necessary for the characters to choose. This classic play dramatically illustrates that over centuries, humanity changes little with modern circumstances. First Stage Young Company tackles this acclaimed tragedy under Joshua Pohja's direction by choosing modern language using a translation from the prestigious French dramatist Jean Anouilh written in 1943. Anouilh often centered his stories on idealistic youth, in this play a young princess, who fights for a divine and personal morality over royal social compromise. Pohja dedicated the production to young Middle Eastern women, similar to Malala who also raised her singular voice against her adversaries even under threat of death.

In this intimate production at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, Scenic Designer Emily Moritz places marbled, triangular strips, spanning ceiling to floor to visualize the Thebes court or the woods Antigone hides in when she is unable to sleep. With this stunning design, an overturned table transforms into a prison cell or becomes the guard's play table while square columns on a platform also hint at ancient architecture. The striking set uses small three legged stools to provide seating, almost like stumps in a forest. Jaclyn Bjornson's costume design offers both a 1940's and Middle Eastern touch, shoed in colored sandals for her characters. With his directorial debut, Pohja beautifully inspires intensity in the casts featuring Josie Trettin as the fragile but iron willed Antigone and Lawson Mitchell playing her beleaguered and tortured Uncle, King Creon.

Using Sophocles' story, Anouilh's interpretation modernizes the language and presents a one member Greek chorus, of which First Stage changes to three: Mary Jensik, Natalie Alteri, and Meghan Deroche, who narrate the story and relate intent to the audience. Jensik leads the chorus, giving the story presence and panache, where Creon recently stabilized a rebellion for the throne and Antigone's brothers were killed. One has been named a hero, Eteocles, and the other a traitor, Polynices; one buried with military honors, the other left to rot and die in Thebes' streets to be a lesson for the citizens. Without a proper burial, Polynices' soul will wander the earth and Antigone needs to bury her brother.agianst Creon's order, under penalty of death to do so.

With a no intermission performance, audiences will thrill to this Young Company production. Trettin carries Antigone's passionate role with professionalism far beyond her high school youth having performed in four main stage shows over her 12 years with the company. At a pre-performance interview, Trettin discussed playing this impressive role and applauded Pohja's decision to dedicate this production for the struggles of women in the Middle East, who are often refused education among other denials of human rights. When compared as a counterpoint to First Stage's Ella Enchanted, now appearing at the Todd Wehr Theater, Antigone presents a "grown-up" version to the power of saying "no" and following what a young woman believes in her heart. A future major in Theater Management after graduating from high school, Trettin says, "Both shows tell a woman's story--the strength of a woman individually and the strength of saying "no' to something you believe in."

"I have had the opportunity to take inspiration from women in the community with this production," Trettin continues, "Strong theater professionals, who were so willing to give me their input, including Deborah Staples (who is playing Hamlet at Illinois Shakespeare this summer) and the amazing Marcella Kearns."

Stong women actors resonate throughout the Milwaukee theater community, and in this production alongside Trettin's humane portrayal of the classical heroine. Antigone's sister Ismene, acted by an accomplished Madisyn Fairchild, the supposedly beautiful sister to Antigone's tomboy, begs Antigone to change her mind, although at first Iseme sympathizes with Antigone's viewpoint.

In the cast mix, Creon's son Haemon, an affectionate Jacob Badovski, feels he can not live without his fiance's , Antigone's love, which causes Creon more distress over his edict of death to anyone who buries Polynices. The three teens illustrate a powerful case for age appropriate casting, as their actual innocence and youth give uncanny credibility to these tragic characters. When Creon argues with his niece Antigone, the arguments eerily feel contemporary in today's world, which the actors passionately relate. At the same time, Milwaukee might be unaware what these youths accomplish and strive for to reach their personal goals in theater and afterwards, all impressive in this production.

As the Greek chorus sings in Antigone, each character in a tragedy travels a certain trajectory toward their appointed destiny. A destiny also decided by the King Creon, which could have been changed if he had abdicated his absolute power and replaced with mercy, a power he ultimately decides necessary to bring Thebes peace. The chorus' interesting epilogue speaks of what peace might mean, even in today's world, for a thought provoking finish to this superb production by the award-winning First Stage Young Company.

An absolute must see for the community, especially those unfamiliar with the story because Antigone's story and the themes run throughout history and literature as cultural touchstones. What does peace mean in today world and how is the best way, politically or socially, to achieve this dream? In a revealing quote from the Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala herself, the young woman claims, "I truly believe the only way we can create global peace is through not only educating our minds, but our hearts and souls."

Go see these wonderful young people in the city. Give untold gratitude to First Stage, who educates Milwaukee's youth for the future and the community through their outstanding productions--one company educating not only the mind, but by producing their World Premiere and classical theater, also the city's hearts and souls.

First Stage Young Company presents Antigone at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center through April 17. For information regarding tickets to Antigone or Ella Enchanted, their 2016-2017 season, please visit www.firststage.org

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