Make Love, Not War: A Literal Interpretation
“Lysistrata” opens at Studio Theatre on Thursday, April 3
A 2,500-year-old Greek sex comedy gets an almost-contemporary update as the spring Studio Theatre production at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.
Under the direction of theatre faculty David Jortner, the battle central to Lysistrata’s plot is no longer the Peloponnesian War between Athenians and Spartans, but the American-Soviet Cold War of the 1950s. However, the action remains the same, which is to say there is no action: Led by the determined Lysistrata, the frustrated women of both countries declare a sex strike as their way of hurrying the peace process.
“While it seems like the theme of the play is war and peace, the real battle here is between the sexes,” Jortner said. “It’s why I chose a Cold War context for this production, because of the era’s strict gender roles. It makes the men-versus-women narrative even more relevant.”
Nineteen-fifties America also gives Jortner plenty of material for set design: AstroTurf, pink lawn flamingos, a backyard pool and sandbox, swim floaties, and a stripper pole are all integral props. As written in 411 B.C.E. by Aristophanes, Lysistrata included a Greek chorus of Wise Men and Wise Women; Jortner has replaced the chorus with a ’50s soundtrack and on-stage radio (“but it’s a wise radio,” he quipped).
Jortner taught Lysistrata for years, but has never directed it. “The dialog is incredible, the way it addresses issues of gender, war, and conflict. Plus the play is just devastatingly funny,” he said. “My students are always shocked at how ribald it is. They never imagined that ancient Greeks were using the language they do. I tell them that physical and sex comedies always translate well across the ages.” Jortner added that the production is “absolutely rated R” for language and sexual situations.
Penn State Behrend students in the cast are Alejandro Alvarado, Jake Balisalisa, Kristin Brown, Shalyn Conto, Olivia Rose Derby, Kristie LaRosa, Darius Martin, Bryan Monroe, Natalie Novak, DeAnna O'Leary, Autumn Shoaf, Kay Smith, and Alanna C. Stecura.
Lysistrata opens at Penn State Behrend’s Studio Theatre at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 3. Additional shows will be held at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 4, Thursday, April, 10, Friday, April 11, and Saturday, April 12. Matinee performances will be at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, April 6 and Sunday, April 13. An 8:00p.m. performance on Saturday, April 5, will be part of the “Gender, Power, Desire” conference hosted by the Penn State Behrend School of Humanities and Social Sciences and will include a talk-back with the cast, designers and director.
Tickets are $5 for students and $7 general admission; to make ticket reservations, phone 814-898-6242.