The Arts / Reviews

Genesius Guild's 'Electra' is both swift and solid

By David Burke | Wednesday, July 09, 2008 | () comments

Genesius Guild performs "Electra" using traditional Greek masks. (Contributed photo)

There are times when those in Genesius Guild have it tougher than any other performers in the Quad-Cities, playing outdoors in Rock Island’s Lincoln Park and battling bugs and heat indices while competing against the audio distractions of leftover fireworks, unmuffled engines and loud car stereos.

But once a year, Genesius sets its own bar higher, performing a Greek tragedy in which all of the lead performers are in mask.

This year, it’s Sophocles’ “Electra,” where the story is not only well-told, but also clocks in at a brisk 70 minutes.

Those who require facial expressions from actors are likely the only ones who might feel let down by the production. Interesting mask designs by Earl Strupp — think of what Picasso might create for Halloween — force the actors to convey their emotions more with the rest of their bodies and well-projected voices.

The title character (a measured, outstanding Andrea Braddy) is at a loss after the murder of her father by her mother (a deliciously villain-ish Susan Perrin-Sallak), who had sacrificed one of Electra’s sisters.

Now she is under the thumb of her mother and the mother’s lover (Scott Tunnicliff).

“They rule me,” she laments. “They dole out my life.”

Electra’s brother Orestes (James J. Loula) may or may not be dead, at least according to various reports. And sister Chrysothermis (Anna Tunnicliff, who delightfully plays the role with a touch of 1930s gangster moll attitude) urges the status quo.

“In tough waters, lower the sails,” she advises. “That’s my theory.”

Even the 10-woman Greek chorus is right on the mark with their lines, inflection and motions completely in unison, something that’s easier said than done.

There are nuggets of humor — which one Sunday night audience member found far more often than the rest of us — but it’s a solid tragedy about a very unstable family.

Director Peggy Hanske’s brisk pace left even those who barely scraped by on our junior high Greek mythology chapters wanting more. That’s not an easy task.

IF YOU GO

What: “Electra” by Genesius Guild

When: 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 12-13

Where: Outdoor theater, Lincoln Park, Rock Island

How much: Free, with donations accepted

Information: Genesius.org on the Web

David Burke can be contacted at (563) 383-2400 or dburke@qctimes.com. Comment on this review at qctimes.com.