Modernized Greek tragedy comes to ACC

"Bacchae," a play based on Greek mythology, is directed by Arthur Adair and put on by Austin Community College's Drama Department at the Mainstage Theater on the second floor of the Rio Grande Campus.

The play runs Nov. 14-16 and Nov. 21-23 at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays.

"Bacchae" is a play based on the mythological story of King Pentheus of Thebes and his mother Agave who were both punished by the god Dionysus (who is Pentheus' cousin) for refusing to worship him.

"The play is about not fighting against the inevitable. It's about people who have trouble with change. It is a contemporary tilt, take it as you will. It is about the nature of true wisdom," said Ryan Manning, creative writer of Carnival Ah!.

The main character, Agave, is played by Ashley Monical, the administrative assistant for Carnival Ah!

The cast consists of 15 students. There are two choruses called Bacchae and Dioneces. They help tell the story while creating emotion throughout the audience.

The conventions of traditional Greek plays include masks, a chorus, and a few main characters who speak aloud by themselves.

The choruses helped tell the story so that the audience could follow the important points.

Along with these conventions, Adair utilizes a minimalist's perspective to create a more modern, but still classical, performance.

"I still kept the structure and conventions of the Greek tragedy while kind of tweaking them to modern day," said Adair.

Adair came to Austin from New York City in 2007 working with an off-broadway theatre called LaMaMa. He is now the Project Manager for Carnival Ah! at ACC.

"I want to introduce the students to classical theater with also the idea of ritualistic and stylized staging. Also, to work with classical language."