AGAMEMNON by Nicolas Billon. Factory Mainspace. Jan 7 at 9:30 pm, Jan 9 at 4:15 pm, Jan 10 at 6:30 pm, Jan 11 at 8:45 pm, Jan 14 at 5:30 pm, Jan 15 at 7:30 pm, Jan 16 at 8:45 pm, Jan 17 at 2 pm. See listing. Rating: NNNN
Playwright Nicolas Billon puts a clever 21st century spin on the famous Greek tragedy by updating the language, adding electronics and making the central characters into a family that could easily star in a TLC reality show (Trojan Explosion, perhaps?).
Billon is mostly loyal to the original story, in which Dad, Agamemnon, returns from the war in Troy to a rather unhappy household. His wife Clytemnestra has taken up with a lover while waiting to even a score with her husband, and the kids haven’t missed him much, either.
Nigel Shawn Williams brings a striking swagger to the title role, Susanna Fournier generates hilarious, horny-teen angst as daughter Chrysothemis, while Earl Pastko balances the kinetic onstage energy by offering calm insight from a living room chair.
Although the use of comedy lessens the play’s impact, director Sarah Kitz ensures it’s well paced and includes some interesting visuals by incorporating stilts.