BWW Reviews: Upstream Theater's Triumphant Production of AN ILIAD

Writers Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare have concocted an intriguing take on Homer's The Iliad (translation by Robert Fagles) with their brilliantly interactive work, An Iliad. The distinction comes from the fact that this play not only utilizes the basic historical information contained within that classic Greek epic, but also confronts us with the sad truth that war has become a constant in our lives, and that some things are simply out of our control whether we like it or not. This amazing piece of theater is brought to the stage by Upstream Theater, and it's brought to life by actor Jerry Vogel. It's an experience that absolutely demands your time and attention as a theater-goer.

An Iliad is a fascinating history lesson told with style and passion. A character known only as The Poet regales us with tales of the various events and characters involved in the Trojan War, attempting along the way to connect the past with the present so that a modern audience can get their head around all it entails. This could easily be a rather dry exercise, but The Poet is determined to see that we, as an audience, understand and relate to the story he is telling. So, he interacts with us, and draws us in to the story in a way that personalizes the experience.

Jerry Vogel is The Poet, and his performance is simply extraordinary; a stunning tour de force. He commands the stage for over 90 minutes, and he never lets your interest wane. Vogel runs the gamut of emotions, smoothly transitioning from one character to another. But, as epic as this tale may be, and it has more than its fair share of both heroes and Gods, it's dwarfed by the countless centuries of conflict that have followed it. So, it's an especially powerful moment when Vogel's character lists the various skirmishes that have consumed various portions of this planet in numerical order. It takes on an even great significance when you stop and realize how many of them have occurred in your own lifetime.

Patrick Siler's perceptive and insightful direction keeps the tale unfolding at a fairly brisk pace given its scope. He's aided by Patrick Huber's scenic design, which presents us with a sort of classroom setting, including a blackboard and some suspended pictographs. Joseph W. Clapper's lighting is extremely effective and greatly acts to set the mood and overall tone, as does musician/composer Farshid Soltanshahi's contributions. He accompanies the proceedings live with a unique blend of classical guitar, ethnic instrumentation and rhythmic drumming.

Upstream Theater's triumphant production of An Iliad continues at the Kranzberg through June 9, 2013