An Iliad

[low_delta]

Last week, we went to The Rep to see An Iliad. The Iliad was an account of the Trojan War told by The Poet. It is a long and detailed telling of a long and brutal war. This play was an adaptation for the modern day. The Poet stood in a bombed out factory. At several points, he related the events and inhabitants of that ancient war, to the wars since, to bring the impact home to us.

The Poet gave no dry reading of the ancient text. He brought Achilles and Hector to life, in all their rage. It was a sort of one-man show. Actor Jim DeVita told and acted the story through The Poet. He had the look of a soldier, someone who understood what happened on the battlefield. He communicated the brutality and futility of war and the grief and rage. And the sheer desperation in having to tell it once more.

There was a cellist onstage. Alicia Storin was The Poet's muse. She appeared through the back wall, and was a clear tie between this world and the ancient one. Where the gods were literally involved in the war, she appeared as the anchor to them, in the factory.

Reviews:
“It’s a good story,” says the lone figure, just emerged from the darkness, as he launches into this modern, enthralling adaptation of Homer’s epic poem that relives the glory and brutality of the Trojan War. Wisconsin-favorite actor, James DeVita, shares the stage with a virtuoso musician in this lean, muscular, tour-de-force performance filled with wit and wisdom that conjures the rage of the gods as it delves deep into mankind’s attraction to violence and destruction.

APT's Jim DeVita brings war to the home front in 'An Iliad' at Milwaukee Repertory Theater

Milwaukee Rep, Jim DeVita's "Iliad" Is Tour-de-Force

Comments

[sirreal13.livejournal.com]

Jim DeVita is effing brilliant. I've seen him many times at American Player's Theatre (www.playinthewoods.org).

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I knew you'd comment. :-)

[sirreal13.livejournal.com]

Did DeVita write the adaptation?

He wrote "Dickens in America" (one man show with James Ridge) and also his own auto-biographical version of Ian McKellan's "Inacting Shakespeare." He also did a killer performance of Valmont in "Liaisons Dangereuses" at the Touchstone (indoors).

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

It was adapted by Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I like how his bio lists his education as
First mate on a fishing boat out of Long Island, for five years
Theater at Suffolk County Community College and UW-Milwaukee
MATC to be an EMT

An Iliad

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

Makes seeing it sound like a good idea. It's been about 15 years since I read the Iliad; I wonder if I would have to remember that much stuff.

I always think I should see DeVita in things other than APT (but that means that I have to drive someplace in the winter). I have the enviable position of having seen the actor enough that I know his acting "ticks" too well. APT actor James Ridge disappears into his characters more than Jim DeVita, I think.

Re: An Iliad

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

The role is all about emoting, so there wasn't as much character for an actor to disappear into.

[i.livejournal.com]

Sounds powerful. It is good to have access to quality live theater.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Yes. We subscribe to The Rep, so we have five shows a year. There's usually at least one that doesn't excite us, and at least one that's really spectacular.