Review: AJAX at ASU School Of Film, Dance And Theatre

There are shows that are visually captivating enough to keep you enthralled. However, no matter how beautiful a set or innovative a concept may be, it is the story being conveyed on stage that holds the most importance. Although Ajax, put on by ASU's School of Film, Dance, and Theatre, is visually enticing, the lackluster performance and overall busyness made the show as a whole hard to digest.

Ajax is a story out of Greek mythology that follows an Athenian warrior that goes mad. Or at least that was what I got from this production. Because of lines being difficult to make out from masked actors and incoherent shouting out of most of the other performers on stage, the plot was hard to follow. Ultimately, the show was an ongoing mosh pit, made appropriate by the Punk Rock concept.

Visually, however, this set was a masterpiece. The stage was clad with stone styled levels and large, concert style speakers built into the set. The on-stage band of Bassist, Garrett Unterreiner, and Drummer, Keegan Brabson, as well as superb Lighting Design by Meg James, set the foundation for an amazing show. Watching the performers take advantage of levels by climbing, tumbling off, and hanging onto the set, as well as the use of water on stage, was refreshing.

After reading the Directors Note at the beginning of the playbill, I found the insight I needed. The idea that a play written by Sophocles two thousand five hundred years ago could ring true in today's climate is amazing. As well, the director's choice to show the play's relevance through its relatability to Punk culture makes for brilliant theatre. Unfortunately, their inability to execute and lack of clarity made for a hard to follow show, with hard to understand dialogue. The beauty and versatility of the set, in conjunction with great lighting design, gave this production the potential to be a masterpiece. However, without the acting, Ajax misses its mark to bring home the message it wishes its audience to receive.

Ajax runs until March 24th in the Paul V. Galvin Playhouse on Arizona State University Campus in Tempe, AZ

Photo Credit: Tim Trumble, courtesy of ASU's Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts