human, despite our fear, insecurity, and despair.
(June 30 - July 1)
Little Theatre of Ancient
Epidaurus
[All shows are staged with supertitles in
English]
Olivier Py
Prometheus Bound, The Suppliants,
by Aeschylus
Once again, provocative actor, poet and director
Olivier Py attempts to give meaning to the present
by re-interpreting two iconic plays of the past:
Aeschylus’ “Prometheus Bound” and “The
Suppliants”. This minimalist production is directed
and translated by Py himself, features a cast of
three, and premiered last summer at the
Festival
d’ Avignon
. In “Prometheus Bound”, a play that is
metaphysical and, at the same time, deeply polit-
ical, a Titan is tortured by the gods because of his
love for humanity. He thus becomes an eternal
symbol of disobedience, a political prisoner par
excellence. As Py puts it, Prometheus teaches us
a “lesson in insurrection.” The play also raises
questions about the issues of democracy, justice,
the law, respect for foreigners and women. It
echoes Aeschylus’ view that the law cannot be
the answer to everything. After all, this is why the-
atre becomes necessary as a space for debate
and reflection. The traditional concept of catharsis
as an act of spectacular purge should be rede-
fined: anger should not prevail.
(August 4 - 5)
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
The Greek National Opera
Madama Butterfly
Famous for its lovely arias, melodies, and theatri-
cality, “Madama Butterfly” is one of Giacomo
Puccini’s indisputable masterpieces, and has
long been a moving experience for audiences.
This magnificent production, directed by
acclaimed Argentinian director Hugo de Ana, will
return to the Odeon of Herodes Atticus for five
performances, under the conduction of Loukas
Karytinos.
The plot revolves around the doomed romance
between fifteen-year-old geisha Cio-Cio-san
(Butterfly), and B. F. Pinkerton, Lieutenant in the
United States Navy. Upon learning he has a son
with Butterfly, Pinkerton returns to Japan after
three years of absence, accompanied by his
American wife.
Butterfly agrees to give up her child to Pinkerton,
but eventually commits suicide. Puccini’s
“Japanese tragedy,” with its masterly portrayal of
Cio-Cio-san’s character, highlights the conflict
between two civilizations, the Japanese and the
Western/American.
(June 2 - 4)
Trade with Greece
121
Yann Tiersen
