Alcestis

Written, directed, scenic design by:
Nancy Keystone

Created in collaboration with:
Critical Mass Performance Group

Developed at Getty Villa Theatre Lab, Malibu, CA, 2012
World Premiere at The Theatre @ Boston Court, Pasadena, CA, 2013

Awards

Named one of 2013’s “10 Best Plays” by the LA Weekly, and “2013 Theatre Highlights” by LA Stage Times. Winner of 3 awards for “Best Adaptation” from LA Weekly, LA Drama Critics Circle, Arts In LA.

Nominated for awards for best direction, sound design, original score, production design, choreography.

About

A meditation on death, sacrifice, resurrection, and the addiction to life. The adaptation of the ancient story of a wife who sacrifices herself to save her husband’s life, takes as its inspiration Euripides’ play, and other versions of the myth across millennia.

Ensemble

Russell Edge, Ray Ford, Lorne Green, Danielle Jones, Nick Santoro, Jeremy Shranko, Valerie Spencer, Kalean Ung

Production

Original music & sound design: Randy Tico
Lighting design: Adam Frank
Projection design: adam Flemming
Costume design: Sarah Brown
Properties design: Jenny Smith
Assistant director: Turner Munch
Dramaturg: Emilie Beck, Mona Heinze
Production stage manager: Casey McGann

Reviews

“A synoptic mélange of pure kinetic and verbal expression…’Alcestis’ is certainly impressive.”
–David C. Nichols, Los Angeles Times

“…among the highlights of the current local season… Keystone’s staging is a kind of marvel — workshop-simple and yet elegant. The adaptation she’s concocted is explicitly about the lives we lead today, but without any winking glibness. It arouses more smiles than laughs, because the company’s investigation of what it means to be alive, and the shadows that impede that life, are so thoughtful and tender.” –Steven Leigh Morris, LA WEEKLY

“…completely involving, scintillating take on Euripides for our time… The performances are emotionally pointed and rich, as legendary figures’ old sorrows and new resentments make themselves felt across the centuries and across these footlights.” –Bob Verini, Arts in LA

“…substantive, arrestingly physical…effective blend of the mundane, the ridiculous and the tragic…audiences should expect the wit, visceral power and uncomfortable truth that shape this original theater piece to remain with them for some time to come.” –Lynne Heffley, Glendale News Press

“…a remarkable journey…very funny, often deeply insightful, and…rippingly visceral…a theatrical delight. Keystone’s artful storytelling, which uses dance, music and symbolic gesture, along with considerable humor and occasional side references to the Euripides original to tell a compellingly poetic tale…the sheer simplicity of the setting makes one listen, not only to the words, but to the movements which often speak louder than words…“Alcestis” is funny, wrenching, inventive and deeply felt.”
–Frances Baum Nicholson, Stage Struck

Press

Los Angeles Times – ‘Alcestis impresses
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-xpm-2013-jul-05-la-et-cm-review-alcestis-at-boston-court-performing-arts-center-20130702-story.html

Glendale News Press — ‘Alcestis’ is haunting and funny https://www.latimes.com/socal/glendale-news-press/entertainment/tn-gnp-et-alcestis-is-haunting-and-funny-20130705-story.html

Hollywood Reporter — https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/style/alcestis-theater-review-581867/

Culture Spot LA review — http://culturespotla.com/review-alcestis-at-the-theatre-at-boston-court/

Asymptotia — Break a Plate! https://asymptotia.com/2013/07/21/break-a-plate/

Photos by:
Ed Krieger, Turner Munch, Montica Pes

Video