Rice Theatre Program presents ‘Hecuba’

Rice Theatre Program presents ‘Hecuba’

BY JESSICA STARK
Rice News Staff

“Hecuba,” the fall production of the Rice Theatre Program, will open at 8 p.m. Nov. 9 in Hamman Hall with a free performance. Admission to remaining shows Nov. 10 and 15-17 requires $5 tickets.

Four actors will play the eight parts in “Hecuba,” mirroring the original intent of the play written by Euripides, who used only three actors. To accomplish the dual-part feat, the actors will use masks, an ancient Greek dramatic technique. This will be the first time the actors have employed the technically difficult devices.

“Hecuba” was written in 425 B.C. in response to the Greeks’ involvement in war. The play centers on Hecuba, a Trojan queen enslaved by the victorious Greeks, as she learns that her daughter will be a blood sacrifice to the spirit of Achilles and that a family friend killed her only remaining son.

Euripides asked his contemporaries to look at the effect of war on both the victor and the vanquished, to question the sanity of the cycle of violence and to judge their own place in that cycle.

“I think that kind of self-judgment is applicable today,” said Trish Rigdon, director of the Theatre program. “War affects all of us on a very basic level. Hopefully, this play will allow each member of the audience to reflect on their own convictions and ask themselves how far would they go in the same situation: When is enough, enough?”

A free reception will precede the opening night performance at 6:30
p.m. with catering by Niko Niko’s Greek and American Café. Seating for
all performances begins at 7:45 p.m. The performance lasts 1 hour, 20
minutes.

“Hecuba” is Rigdon’s last production for the Rice Theatre Program. In 2008, she will leave academia to focus on professional commitments as a theater producer, director, and designer. Rigdon joined Rice University in 2000 and has taught acting, directing and design.

To reserve tickets, call the box office at 713-348-PLAY (7529). Directions and parking information for Hamman Hall can be found at http://theatre.rice.edu/directions.cfm.