The Prophet Motive – SENGA brings the first part of Aeschylus’ ‘The Oresteia’ to Ojai Valley Grange

The Chorus includes, from left, Chad Parker, George Miller and Jennifer Brown. They are performing a comedic slapstick routine in fear of reprisal as they hear Agamemnon being murdered King Agamemnon (Ronald Rezac) triumphantly addresses the Greeks on his return from the Trojan war while Queen Clytemnestra (Natasha Zavala) plots her revenge for his sacrifice oftheir daughter ten years before Dean Zatkowsky photos
The Chorus includes, from left, Chad Parker, George Miller and Jennifer Brown. They are performing a comedic slapstick routine in fear of reprisal as they hear Agamemnon being murdered
King Agamemnon (Ronald Rezac) triumphantly addresses the Greeks on his return from the Trojan war while Queen Clytemnestra (Natasha Zavala) plots her revenge for his sacrifice oftheir daughter ten years before
Dean Zatkowsky photos

It was “The Reality of the Unreal,” a looming, seven-foot tall sculpture of Oedipus by M.B. Hanrahan, that gave Francisca Beach, artistic director of SENGA Classic Stage Company, the impetus to mount ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus’ trilogy known as “The Oresteia.” Part one, “Agamemnon,” is being premiered tonight under the title “The Curse of the House of Atreus.”

Through a “stroke of luck and generosity” on the sculptor’s part, the large piece Ms. Beach saw now dominates the stage at the Ojai Valley Grange.

Read More