Suppose you have just seen the first Athenian production of Euripides' Alcestis. Write a Siskel and Ebert style (thumbs up/thumbs down) review of the production as you imagine it.Include in your review responses to earlier reviewers if you like.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
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Annie Merkel
ReplyDeleteI give Alcestis a thumbs up. The ending was not what I expected, but it ended properly. Such a tragedy in this man's life, and then to turn around and have his tragedy undone. Overall, I really enjoyed Alcestis.
Brian Johnson
ReplyDeleteI give Alcestis a thumbs up. It seems like many of the plays we have read deal with the dark side of life, but this dealt with the best of human nature: honor, caring, love and devotion.
I give this a thumbs up. It is a great love story, and it has a happy ending, which is not something often seen in these plays we have been looking at. I like the faithfulness and even though he breaks one rule, his treatment of hercules, helps get his wife back. So I totally agree with the previous posts thumbs up.
ReplyDeleteZach Anderson
I have to give Alcestis a thumbs up. It has to deal with all the things most people doon't want to deal with. Overall it was kinda confusing though. The opening with Apollo and Death was good.
ReplyDeleteLaura McCowan
Sam Merkel
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with everyone else so far and give Alcestiis a thumbs up. The beginning caught my attention with the argument between Apollow and Death. I like how Death conducts himself towards the people he takes. The older the better the younger they are the less sweet they are. He seems to be a man that is passionate towards his profession.
Peter Ryman
ReplyDeleteWhat the heck; thumbs up with everyone else.
I agree with Annie--unexpected ending that turned out for good. I thought it was rather clever of Euripides to have Heracles pretend that Alcestis was a prize he won when he comes to Admetus. Over all as a story, presumably good. Over all as truth and life relation to us, significantly gaping.
I will also have to agree with everyone else and give this play a thumbs up. First, I really enjoyed all of the characters of the play. Alcestis is an unbelievable character and shows the great bond that marriage can have. I also thoroughly enjoyed Admetus because at first I hated him and then by the end I loved how true he was to Alcestis wishes. Hercules is also nice cause he gives a little comic relief with his drunken stooper.
ReplyDeleteThe theme of the play is also very excellent. Euripides did a very nice job of portraying the dedication that can be shown in a loving relationship, and even if it means costing their life a partner will do anything to save the other.
Kirsten Saunders
ReplyDeleteThis play appeals to my more sensitive nature, maybe I would shed a tear or two for Alcestis' love for her husband. This is a good play, not the most senational play I have ever read, but a nice alternative. Additionally, it calls on human hospitality, Admetus, for example, does not turn Heracles away even in his deepest moourning. The ending was a pleasant surprise and the chorus did a good job throughout the play. Heracles' drunken demeanor adds an interesting element to the Greek drama.
Two Thumbs up I liked the fact that the actors spoke back and forth and not just one long speech, it seems more like a modern movie to. I liked all the ways it deals with humans and emotions like grieving for the dead,and hospitality for guests like Kirsten said, just a lot of different elements to make the play interesting. And it would be awesome to be a drunk heracles
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone else so far, this play definately gets a thumbs up. I definately was not expected Heracles to bring back Alcestis to life and the happy ending is different from what we have been reading thus far. As Keith said, the talking back and forth makes the play seem more like a movie and also the happy ending makes it seem more like a movie. Also, it shows us a lot about the hospitality of the Greeks. Overall, I thought this was a good play.
ReplyDeleteA definite thumbs up. I like longwinded speeches, but this, with its back and forth style, was a welcomed change. We haven't dealt with a love story thus far. It was nice to catch a glimpse at what the Greeks held as love.
ReplyDelete-Matthew Peterson
A happy ending is always a good ending no matter how many times you see one. This was a pretty crazy and unexpected ending too which makes it even better. Thumbs up like everybody else, they also set it up for a good sequel
ReplyDeleteJon evenson
Ruth Wilson
ReplyDeleteI guess I've read WAY to many romance novels to have this ending take me by suprise as it apearently did some peeps. Strange. Anyway, I give it a thumbs down. If Admetus had any honor, he would never have asked others to die for him. His father was right. He was a coward to look away from his death and try to put first his father, then his mother, than his servants (!) in the line of fire. His wife seemed a last ditch effort. Then she took FOREVER to die and both of them whining the whole time.
Maybe I'm just over tired and/or have had a rotten day (both seem to make me all the more cynical) but if you ask your wife to die for you, don't complain about it. Its what you asked for. If you 'volenteer' to die for your husband, don't complain about it. Again, its what you wanted. Its like ordering pie and then bitching at the waitress for bringing you pie.
Then you get the gods involved. Well, gods and a demigod. I find it interesting that Heraclese, who just so happens to be the only mortal in Greek mythology to be spared the stay in Hades just HAPPENS to be traveling by this guys property around the time of his wifes 'untimely death'. Fine, I'll go with it. Hospitality being one of the things Greecians value over just about anything else, of course Heracles is going try to get Admetus' wife back. Maybe thats the missing link as to why nobody else saw Heracles' actions comming; I took ancient lit last semester and learned how highly valued hospitality was to the Greeks. It wasn't hard to but two and two together.
My final problem is this; where did Apollo go? he seems to have just dissapeared after either sending Heracles after those horses or prediciting he would show up.
I think perhapse this modern age had jaded me in the plot department. I love having things all twisty and complexicated. :)
I agree mostly with the previous posts but part of me is on Ruth's side too. I liked that it was fairly easy to read, and it does appeal to a modern audience as the introduction says, but I'm a stickler for alternate endings. The end of this show was a little too close in similarity to Rent for my taste. Let the lady die in peace. And usually the getting drunk is saved for after the resurrection. Well I guess I always thought that was proper etiquette, if not take it up with my mom.
ReplyDeleteKelsey Leddy
I would give this play one thumb up. Euripides had a good idea with the basis of the play. It was an interesting plot with many aspects that would make you think and analyze your own life. He also did a good job at character development and showing the true nature of characters, especially with Admetus.
ReplyDeleteBut I think he could have done more with the action of the story. He tells us taht Herakles attacks death and takes Alcestis away from him, but we never see it done. I think he could have added that scene in and it would have made the story better and captured the reader's attention even more.
John Rawerts
the story was well delevered and its hard not to like a charecter like Alcestis.
ReplyDeleteher husband is less then desirable wanting someone else to die for him but she truly loves him if shes willing to and i liked how strong of a love that showed in her.
i'm glad to see she didnt get a sad ending and that heracles rescued her. i'm not usualy satisfied with the hollywood happy endings but this one was fitting. she deserved better
so i give it a thumbs up.
-allison rademacher
Terry Kenny
ReplyDeleteI gave this play two thumbs and eight other digits down. The theme of the play appears to be about accepting ones own fate and the consequences that follow from not doing so. Admetus, a Bill Clinton like figure, can avoid his death if he can get someone else to take his place. Unfortunatley the only person he can find who will do this is his wife. I know you may be thinking what kind of romantic clap-trap is this but hold on it gets worse. Admetus is the sort of self-centered person who gets upset after he pledges not to re-marry because now he will have to go through life alone. Well too bad, if he would have accepted his fate and died his wife wouldnt have had to take his place. For Admetus, much like the current presidents health care plan, the cure is worse then the disease.
Which brings us to the true hero of the play Alcestis. She is an example of what the author views as good character in a wife. She chooses to die for her husband. Alcestis seems to have the virtuous character that Admetus does not. And Alcestis is definitely not as self-centered as her sniviling husband is.
There is a minor character played by Heracles who appears to be a loud mouthed drunken lout who somehow rescues Alcestis from death and brings her back to Admetus. This ending is so sugary sweet it should come with a diabetes warning.
The message seems to be, and this is just my opinion, that someone can be a self-centered person who avoids his own fate at the cost of those he holds dear and everything will turn out well in the end. Only in the land of the playwright is this true. Or the U.S. congress take your pick.
I give this play two thumbs up. Whether or not I find the figure of Admetus noble, I think that the rest of the play which centers around him is brilliant. I think that Euripides is trying to get at something a lot deeper than "a self-centered person" who is avoiding death. The only part that bothered me about this play was the long Choruses in the middle of the episodes. The didn't seem to serve much of a purpose.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Terry and Ruth and give this play two thumbs way way down. The character of Admetus is a totaly dishonorable figure whit Alcestis is heroic, she is displayed as what a proper wife should be and not a free thinking person for herself. The acting also left something to be desired, I barely stayed in the theater past minute 20. All in all this is not a production I would recommend for your average viewer, but if you enjoy masochistic design then by all mean this is the play for yout.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most people. I can realize Alcestis’s love for her husband. This book shows great love and happy ending compared to the others. When she decided to die instead her lover, I was surprised and feel sad. But finally Heracles rescue form death, some words come in my mind ‘return virtue for good results.’
ReplyDelete