Medea's Family Reunion

Planning it was murder

Comments (0) By Paul Friswold Wednesday, Jun 21 2006

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Washington University in St. Louis

Euripedes' Medea is what the ancient Greek philosophers called "a can of worms." (Of course, in Greek that sounds much classier.) Is this tale of a woman, Medea, who is jilted by her husband only to kill her replacement and her own children, a story about loving too much if not well? Or is it a cautionary tale about allowing pride to surpass compassion? Or is it a commentary on how motherhood forces a woman to ignore herself in order to please her husband and family? In truth, Medea is all of these stories and more. Euripedes struck at the dark heart of the human condition — that one person can harbor hatred and vengeance, and love and empathy, and fear and boldness — all in the same breast. The Orange Girls theater company presents a contemporary Medea at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday (June 21 through July 2) at the A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre on Washington University's campus (Forsyth and Skinker boulevards; www.orangegirls.org or 314-520-9557). Tickets are $15 to $18.
Wednesdays-Sundays. Starts: June 21. Continues through July 2