"I study the play so I can help the actors to understand the dialogue and dramatic confrontations and to figure out how to move them around the stage," Pappas said in an email interview.
That is why Pappas, a director with 40 years of experience, is looking forward to directing Pittsburgh Public Theater's production of Sophocles' "Electra," at the O'Reilly Theater. The theater, located at 621 Penn Ave., is launching its 37th season with the play.
The show runs from Sept. 29 through Oct. 30 and is Pappas' third Greek production, following "Medea" and "Oedipus the King."
"Electra" is the tale of a Greek family's conflict. The family tree consists of: Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, his wife Clytemnestra played by Lisa Harrow and their three children, daughters Iphigenia and Electra played by Catherine Eaton, and son Orestes played by Michael Simpson. The famous Trojan War took place during the time period of the play.
Agamemnon hunts in the forest protected by the goddess Artemis ad he claimed he was a better hunter. She punished him by stopping the winds, and would only bring them back if Agamemnon sacrificed his eldest daughter.
Enraged, Clytemnestra "vowed vengeance" and had an affair with Aegisthus played by David Whalen. When Agamemnon finally returns from Troy, his wife and her lover murders him. Electra worries that they will harm Orestes, so she sends him off with a faithful servant, Pylades played David Bielewicz. The play picks up from there and shows the battle between mother and daughter.
Director Pappas has been with the Pittsburgh Public Theater for 19 years and has spent 12 years as producing artistic director. Coming from a Greek family, he is fascinated with Greek tragedies, which is why he chose to direct "Electra."
As he said, "Not only are these plays pillars of western literary and theatrical art, they are also fast-paced and thrilling stories with fabulous parts for actors."
Although "Electra" has been translated, adapted and produced various times, Pappas has put his own spin on this production.
"What I bring to the production is a thorough understanding of the text, which I have read in Greek, as well as the world in which the play takes place," Pappas said. "Because the O'Reilly Theater has seats that rise up on three sides of the stage, it's very much like the Greek theater where the original production of "Electra" took place almost 2500 years ago."
Cast member and Point Park University alumna and faculty member Amy Landis said, in a phone interview, of the conflict between Electra and Clytemnestra, "I hope the audience [sees] that the arguments on [Electra's side], are strong. Both [Clytemnestra and Electra] are right, but at the same time, both are wrong."
Landis, who has been teaching voice and speech classes at Point Park since 2005, plays one of the women in the Chorus, which she says is a "pivotal, emotional" role. These three women support Electra, especially since their fate is tied with hers.
"If Electra succeeds, she will save us all," Landis said.
The play opens with Orestes and Pylades secretly returning to the palace of Mycenae to avenge Agamemnon's death with Electra. Pylades is Orestes' "right-hand man" and is played by David Bielewicz, who graduated from Point Park in 2009. Bielewicz plays the only non-speaking role in the play and has to rely on his body to communicate his character.
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| Actor David Bielewicz portrays the silent character of Pylades. |
"My character is very dependent on the reaction and understanding of the relationship between Orestes and Pylades," Bielewicz said. "My role is [also] to be a part of the suspense."
Bielewicz hopes his audiences will react to the suspense along with him, especially since there is a long period of time where everyone knows Orestes is alive except for Electra. He also hopes the audiences will see the value in the history of the play, and that human nature has not changed.
Bielewicz would like for his audiences to appreciate the work the actors have put into the production. "These actors are exceptional," Bielewicz said. "It is a blessing to work with them. They live and breathe this play."
Landis also has similar hopes and expectations for the audiences. She wants her audiences to particularly pay attention to the language – in verse, but with modern terms – of this adaptation.
"The language of this translation/adaptation is very beautiful, very clear, very potent," Landis said.
Pappas also has his own high expectations for his audiences.
"I expect they will be shocked and deeply moved by what happens to Electra and her family. I expect they will appreciate the uniqueness of this ancient Greek tragedy, yet be amazed by how contemporary the story and emotions are."
Student tickets, with valid ID, are just $15.75. To buy tickets, and for more information, call the Pittsburgh Public Theater at 412-316-1600 or visit ppt.org.
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