“Sophokles’s Elektra” is the classic clash of good versus evil, complete with intense fight scenes that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The upcoming performance from the AU Players will run from Oct. 4 to 6, kicking off its four-show season this semester.
Both a tragedy and a comedy, “Elektra” is a short Greek tragedy about a middle-class teenager who lives in the suburbs in modern times. But she is no ordinary girl — she and her brother are plotting to kill her mother and stepfather to get revenge on them for killing her father and for abusing Elektra.
Director Megan Westman, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said she chose the play because of its modern adaptation approach. “Elektra” is the first full-length play she has directed since high school.
“I’m very happy with how it is coming along so far because it is a full group of very talented actors who have put in a lot of hours of hard work into it,” Westman said.
The cast dedicated hours of rehearsal time in the weeks leading up to the play, according to School of Communication sophomore Brendan Williams-Childs, who stars as Elektra’s brother Orestes.
For Jeff Gan, a junior in the School of International Service and CAS, the hours of rehearsal pay off. He completely immerses himself as the character Aegisthus, the evil stepfather who molests and abuses Elektra.
“It was hard to go to a dark place, to be an evil and abusive figure,” Gan said. “But it is good for the show and is successful.”
Jess Keane, who plays the vengeful titular character, said that the cast helped her get into character by reaching her inner anger.
“To be able to get into character for Elektra I put myself in the darkest place possible,” Keane said. “However, in real life, I’m a pretty happy kid.”
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