THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024 Page 15 Apollinaire Theatre Company presents Aeschylus’s ‘The Suppliant Women’ A pollinaire Theatre Company, in collaboration with Teatro Chelsea and the City of Chelsea, presents Aeschylus’s “The Suppliant Women” in a version by David Greig with music by John Browne. This free bilingual adaptation — featuring haunting music and dynamic choreography — is designed to engage English-speaking and Spanish-speaking audiences alike. “If we help, we invite trouble. If we don’t, we bring shame.” Fifty women board a boat in North Africa. They fl ee across the Mediterranean, leaving everything behind. They are escaping forced marriage in their home and seeking asylum in Greece. Written 2,500 years ago, “The Suppliant Women” is one of the world’s oldest surviving plays. It’s about the plight of refugees, moral and human rights and democracy. It tells a story that echoes down the ages to fi nd striking and poignant resonance today. Part play, part ritual, part theatrical archaeology, “The Suppliant Women” explores fundamental questions of humanity: Who are we, where do we belong and, if all goes wrong, who will take us in? “The Suppliant Women” features a cast of 50 helmed by Paola Ferrer (“Hamlet,” “Don’t Eat the Mangos,” “Dance Nation,” etc.) as Danaos, Brooks Reeves (“Hamlet,” “The Importance of Being Earnest,” “The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart,” etc.) as The King, and Chorus Leaders Parker Jennings (“Touching the Void,” “Lunch Bunch”), with Pearl Scott and Elainy Mata making their Apollinaire debuts. This play is unusual in that the traditional Chorus plays the main role, expressing themselves through song and moveThe evening begins Women’s Chorus leaders Parker Jennings, Pearl Scott and Elainy Mata (Photo: Danielle Fauteux Jacques) ment. The singers are accompanied by the aulos — an ancient double-barreled oboe that accompanied the original productions of Greek dramas. There are only about 250 people in the world who play aulos, and we are lucky to have found one of them: Aneesh Kashalikar. The score is also arranged for a large array of percussion instruments played by local percussionists Laura Jordan and Stephen Guerra. David Reiff el, a Norton Award winner for New Rep’s “Man of La Mancha” and Speakeasy’s “Shakespeare in Love,” is the Music Director. “The Suppliant Women” is Apollinaire’s fourth production of a David Greig play, directly following its spring production of “Touching the Void,” and “The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart” in 2019 (Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Ensemble) and “Midsummer” in 2015. Greig is a multi-award-winning playwright and the Artistic Director of the Royal Lyceum Edinburgh. at 6:00 with live music, performances, and craft brews at the pop-up BearMoose Beer Garden in PORT Park. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and to enjoy a picnic dinner via take-out or delivery from Chelsea’s exciting culinary delights. Dining information will be available on: apollinairetheatre.com. Performances are free! They are on Fridays and Saturdays from August 2-17 at 7:30 p.m. PORT Park is at 99 Marginal St. in Chelsea. There is free onsite parking. In case of rain: 617-887-2336 to check status. The run time is about 90-105 minutes. More info/directions/parking info: www. apollinairetheatre.com Director: Danielle Fauteux Jacques. Music Director: David Reiff el. Choreographer: Audrey Johnson. Pre-Show Directors: Charleen Andujar, Brooks Reeves. Women’s Chorus (Photo: Danielle Fauteux Jacques)
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