Review: ANTIGONE PROJECT - A PLAY IN 5 PARTS at Rep Stage in Columbia: Bold and Profound

There are some plays one should do some research on before they see it. The ANTIGONE PROJECT is one of them. But even if you don't, (I didn't) you will still enjoy this fascinating tour de force effort to showcase five women playwrights who present their take on the Greek classic play ANTIGONE by Sophocles.

This play establishes why Rep Stage exists within the confines of the Howard County Community College. It bends rules, does not shy away from challenging audiences, and presents plays that few other local theaters would attempt.

Credit the Co-Producing Artistic Directors Suzanne Beal and Joseph W. Ritsch for their desire to bring this type of entertainment to benefit us all.

As one enters the small Studio Theater one can only be impressed with the massive set designed by Scenic Designer James Fouchard. It's breathtaking. There are huge stone pillars which could be from Ancient Greece or the ruins of a city devastated from warfare. Look for the many bullet holes in the towers. There are many pieces camouflaged with netting. One being a body in a uniform. There are books everywhere and pottery.

A highlight of the evening is the work of Projection Designer Sarah Tundermann. There are messages on the tall beams, videos on the back of the set of people talking, and photos of mass destruction. This is Broadway caliber work.

There is atmospheric music by Sound Designer William K. D'Eugenio and inventive Lighting Design by Joseph R. Walls.

The play was conceived by Chiori Miyagawa and Sabrina Peck and first performed in 2004. It is written by five award-winning female playwrights who bring five various views of Sophocles' tragedy to the stage dealing with race, class, and gender. You will explore various locations from World War I, to a modern African village to the underworld of Hades. The five playwrights are Karen Hartman, Tanya Barfield, Caridad Svich, Lynn Nottage, and Chiroi Miyagawa.

The intermission less 70 minute play is directed by Ritsch who has assembled a stellar cast and moves the proceedings on effortlessly and quickly.

Ritsch related to me that Nottage's "A Stone's Throw" which deals with an unmarried woman in an African village is sentenced to death by stoning was written just prior to her monumental work RUINED.

Miyagawa's "Red Again" is the final piece and is set in the underworld. The playwright has a clever way of making the evening relevant for today. The character Irene (based on Ismene) and Harold (based on Haemon) try to deal with today's trials and tribulations. "I remember you might have called my brother dark-skinned, though not really dark but definitely not creamy white. That did not make him a terrorist. He didn't have any weapons. All he had was a wallet which transferred into the shape of gun in the presence of police officers...children are being murdered everywhere by fictitious weapons of mass destruction and economic sanctions and post war deprivations and words like "axis of evil"...I'm called on August 5th 8:15 a.m. The mushroom cloud from Hiroshima is choking Manhattan. It's April 22 and the mustard gas released at the eastern part of France is chocking Manhattan. It's September 11, 8:46 a.m. I'm reporting a broken city." Powerful stuff.

The cast should be commended: Jonathan Feuer, Kelly Renee Armstrong, Daniel Ayoola, Katie Hileman, and Shannon Graham.

The theatricality of this production demands a visit. Thought it would be helpful to do a little research beforehand.

JUST ANNOUNCED....Playwright Chiori Miyagawa will be heading a post-show discussion following the Saturday night, March 5 performance.

THE ANIGONE PROJECT only runs until March 6 in the Studio Theatre of the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center on the campus of Howard Community College in Columbia, MD. For tickets call 443-518-1500 or visit www.repstage.org.

For you musical theater lovers, the school has Open Auditions for the Tony Award-Winning Musical THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE on February 27 and March 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Dance Studio. Performances are 3 weekends May 19 to June 5. For more information, visit www.howardcc.edu/artscollective.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

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