IN BRIEF: TWU’s School of the Arts, Media and Culture presents The Bacchae, Aaron Caleb’s liberal adaptation of Euripides’ haunting myth. Once the pop sensation Diona and her entourage roll through, no city is ever the same. But in the quiet town of Canton, there’s a troubled history…and a score to settle. March 22 – April 2, Tuesday – Saturday 8pm, Saturday matinees 2pm. Tickets and info: www.twu.ca/theatre.
Move over, Justin Bieber. Fame is as instant as technology, and the iconic “Diona” has achieved godlike status overnight.
Or so goes the retelling of ancient Greek legend by Langley playwright Aaron Caleb. In a revamped The Bacchae at Trinity Western University, Dionysus has become Diona and there is something eerily familiar about the near cult-like sensation created by her music, philosophy, and techno-gadgets.
The Bacchae, running March 22 – April 2, projects a hypnotic, hyper-contemporary world of glittering enchantment. The sensational superstar and activist Diona offers “pleasure divine” – title of one of the production’s original pop numbers by local composer Jef Gibbons. But when she and her entourage roll into the quiet town of Canton, home to Diona’s troubled past, her concert plans unearth a culture clash that threatens to get ugly. Is Diona’s revolutionary message the key to Canton’s freedom? Or is she about to start a war?
With its contemporary yet highly stylized and surreal setting, Caleb’s adaptation has updated more than the language—all of the spectacle is inspired by the language of entertainment today. “The contemporary lens has informed everything,” explains Caleb, who is also directing. “From start to finish the show is fast-paced and highly visual, it’s a feast for the senses. The original music runs the gamut from upbeat and poppy to techno to darker, edgier styles. And underneath it all, there’s this ribbon of suspense. As Diona’s devotees discover, this is one rave you won’t want to tweet about.”
Starring Julie Casselman, Julia Church, Megan Couch, Mark Fleming, Brittany Gainer, Karyn Guenther, Jon Hollis, Lyndon Johnson, Shayna Jones, Daniele Neve, Thomas Nelson, Nicola Prigge, Sarah Ruth, Chris Simons, Danielle Spampinato, and Mackenzie West. Set design by Katrina Grabowski, lighting by Lauchlin Johnston, costumes by Barbara Gregusova, and original compositions by Jef Gibbons.
Evening performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 8pm, March 22 – April 2 with Saturday matinees at 2pm. Special post-show panel discussion in honour of World Theatre Day on March 24.
For more information and tickets, visit www.twu.ca/theatre or email theatre@twu.ca.