The Bakersfield College Theater Department is getting ready for its annual spring production with the Greek tragedy “Trojan Women,” which will open early April.
Kimberly Chin, the director of the show, chose to do this play after she ran into some problems with the rights for the show she had originally planned for this year.
“Since I directed an ancient Greek comedy last spring, I said that maybe the rights not being available for the other play was a sign that I should do the flip side and direct an ancient Greek tragedy,” Chin said.
According to Reg Autwell, stage manager of the show, BC’s production of “Trojan Women” is a unique take on a classic story.
“The show is a Greek tragedy that takes place in a post-apocalyptic time,” Autwell said. “It has some Greek history and words with post-apocalyptic outfits.”
Amanda Duke, who portrays high priestess Cassandra, says that the nature of her character has been challenging, but embraces the individuality of the production.
“Kim always has a different edge that she wants us as actors to approach in every one of her plays, which is challenging, but it only makes us more excited for the first night when we surprise the audience with something they totally are not expecting,” Duke said. “The way this play is unique is the fact that, unlike most Greek plays that are set in ancient Greece, our director decided that it will be set in the distant future, after a global disaster has rendered the world hostile, supplies scarce, and humanity reduced to warring city states, all of them are under the mysterious control of our extraterrestrial gods.”
“Trojan Women” counts with a cast of over 22 members, including a plentiful amount of newcomers, as well as veteran actors.
“This will be several students’ first production, so I’m especially excited for them,” said Chin. “We are blessed with several talented actors in our BC Theater Department, I couldn’t do the show without them.”
One of the most experienced actors is Morgan Von Sydow, who portrays the Greek God Poseidon.
“This story was written about 416 B.C. by Euripides in protest of the unforgiving siege of Melos by the Athenians,” he said. “It is amazing how this story has lasted for so long because of its deeply relevant themes like how the horrors of war can be utterly demoralizing on pretty much everyone. This is no doubt a tragic play, but it is also a thought-provoking one.”
The cast and crew are hoping for a good turnout.
“With our extremely creative director and our array of really talented performers and crew members,” Von Sydow said. “I strongly believe that we will leave our audiences with something to talk about in the end.
“Trojan Women” will open on April 4 and continue to run April 5-6 and April 11-13. The show will be performed in the outdoor area between the Fine Arts building and the Auto Technology building. All performances begin at 8 p.m., with the gates opening at 7:30 p.m. General admission will be $5.50, and $3.50 for students, staff, faculty, seniors, and military. Due to some mature content, no one under the age of six will be admitted.