The second installment in our "Mature Comedies" series brings us from the fictional countries of Sicilia and Bohemia to the quasi-historical doings of the Trojan War with Troilus and Cressida. A 'Romeo and Juliet' style romance where the title characters take their romance a few steps ahead and mixes together with a sword and sandle epic of a satirical style. Written after Hamlet, in 1602-1603, Shakespeare began exploring more tragic themes and motivations however, turning more known conventions on it's head. The story of Troilus and Cressida, unknown in Homer's work The Iliad, was a latter add on by medieval story tellers.to add some romance. Shakespeare's touch expands their story's lusty motivations and then lampoons the classic heros The Iliad. Set in ancient Greek period, this production mixes the long winded and comical, with satire and some romance with rousing Gladiator style battle sequences.
For seven years the Greeks and Trojans have been at war following the Trojan prince Paris' abduction of Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, from her Greek husband Menelaus. The besieging Greek army is encamped under the walls of Troy and, at the point at which the play begins, the war has reached stalemate.
The Greeks are quarrelling amongst themselves. Achilles, their greatest champion, refuses to fight and has withdrawn to his tent with his lover, Patroclus. Ulysses tries to entice Achilles back to the field by arousing his jealously against Ajax, a rival warrior, whom he acclaims as their new hero and elects to meet Hector, the Trojan champion in single combat.
Equally at odds with themselves, the Trojans are debating the value of continuing the war merely for the sake of keeping Helen. Hector declares her not worth the lives she costs but when his brother Troilus contends that honour demands they continue to fight for her, Hector is brought round to his point of view.
Although the single combat between Ajax and Hector ends in a show of amity, hostilities are resumed the following day.
Synopsis continued...
Troilus, however, is much distracted from these military concerns by his love for Cressida, the daughter of Calchas, a Trojan who has defected to the Greek camp leaving his daughter in Troy. The young lovers are eagerly abetted by Cressida's uncle Pandarus, who acts as their go-between. However, after only one night together they are parted when, in exchange for the captured general Antenor, Cressida is sent to join her father in the Greek camp. Almost immediately she betrays Troilus with the Greek Diomedes and, discovering this, Troilus is plunged into despair.
Despite his sister Cassandra's prophecies of doom, Hector goes into battle and is treacherously murdered by Achilles, who has finally been roused into action by the death of Patroclus. With the fall of Troy certain, Troilus, disillusioned as a lover, assumes Hector's role as the Trojan champion and vows revenge on Achilles.
A scene between the title couple, the love and lust struck Trojan Troilus (Hugo Salazar) and the equally love struck but wandering Cressida (Stephanie Jones).
Van Vorst Park, Jersey City, NJ
Hudson Shakespeare
Company
The sarcastic fool Thersites (Ashley Addelman) wryly comments on the posturing of the would-be heroes in the play often getting him in trouble with more than one of them. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
Pandarus (Steven Bidwell) plots to get his niece Cressida together with Prince Troilus so he can move up the social ladder of Troy. His name would become synonymous with pimps. Staib Park, Hackensack, NJ
The ever gung-ho Agamemnon (David Reck) continually tries to rally his beleagured troops with uninspiring speeches and rhetoric that sound only good to himself.
Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
Achilles (Michael Kaup), the Greeks best fighter, has grown bored with the war and just wants to spend some quality time with his “friend” Patroclus (Colin McFadden) which irritates his fellow commanders, Ulysses (left, Jennifer Mauerhofer), Ajax (Diana Lee), Agamemnon (David Reck) and Nestor (Lee Goffin-Bonefant). Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CTAchilles (Michael Kaup), the Greeks best fighter, has grown bored with the war and just wants to spend some quality time with his “friend” Patroclus (Colin McFadden) which irritates his fellow commanders, Ulysses (left, Jennifer Mauerhofer), Ajax (Diana Lee), Agamemnon (David Reck) and Nestor (Lee Goffin-Bonefant). Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
Ulysses (Jennifer Mauerhofer) knows that only way to get Achilles out of his tent is to play to his ego. He hatches a plan to pit their best warrior against Hector, Troy’s best warrior, in a one on one combat. This would naturally be Achilles but they choose the oaf Ajax instead. Above, Ulysses imitates Ajax in battle knowing the irritation that this will cause Achilles. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
Achilles (Michael Kaup) scoffs at hearing of this contest to Patroclus (Colin McFadden) and thinks it’s a jest, but soon is burned to know that he is being passed up for a lesser warrior. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
The Trojans meet to discuss ending their losses in the war by giving Helen back to the Greeks. The laid back Paris (Colin McFadden) states emphatically that he will not give up his “wife” and his brother Troilus (Hugo Salazar) supports him by saying that all of the noble Trojan blood would have been wasted if they give Helen up now. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
Pandarus (Steven Bidwell) needs a diversion to get Troilus away from a royal dinner so he can have a rendezvous with Cressida. Here he tries to get his brother Paris (Colin McFadden) to make an up an excuse but Pandarus is continually thwarted by the over-sexed Helen (Gina Depeppe).
The usual motor-mouthed pair, Troilus (Hugo Salazar) and Cressida (Stephanie Jones), are now tongue-tied when finally getting together. As they dance around each other, Pandarus (Steven Bidwell) wishes they would just go with it already and sleep together. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
Finding that wanting is not as satisfying as having Troilus (Hugo Salazar) attempts to make a hasty retreat the morning after. Cressida (Stephanie Jones) tries to get Troilus to stay and talk about their future but later laments giving sleeping with him so easily.
Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
Aeneas (Gina Depeppe) arrives to tell Troilus (Hugo Salazar) that Cressida is being traded to the Greeks in exchange for a high ranking prisoner. Her father having defected to the Greeks wants her back. Hector (David Sewell) tries to console his upset brother. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT.
Hector (David Sewell) meets Agamemnon (David Reck) and with the rest of the Greek camp for the single combat with Ajax. An unamused Achilles (Michael Kaup) and always amused Patroclus (Colin McFadden) take in the festival like proceedings. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT.
As Ulysses predicts, Achilles (Michael Kaup) can’t help but let his ego take over and introduces himself to Hector. While Hector fights this friendly fight with Ajax, Achilles will meet him on the battlefield and kill him. Hector is unimpressed. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT.
Ulysses (Jennifer Mauerhofer), having heard of the plight of Troilus (Hugo Salazar) takes him to where Cressida is being held. Much to Troilus’ shock, Cressida (Stephanie Jones) has moved on and taken up with a junior Greek officer Diomedes (Tim Williams). Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT.
Cressida’s betrayal has spurned Troilus (Hugo Salazar) to become a fighting machine. During their latest skirmish, he takes on Diomedes (Tim Williams). Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT.
Achilles (Michael Kaup) learns that Hector has killed Patroclus and this rouses him to finally face his archenemy, Hector (David Sewell). Above the two classic warriors fight to the death, but Achilles is unarmed by Hector and he runs away.
Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT.
Achilles (Michael Kaup) decides to use dirtier tactics and has his personal army, the Myrmidons, ambush Hector (David Sewell). Although Hector fights off many of their attacks he finally is pummeled and stabbed to death. Achilles then takes his body and drags it from the back of his chariot. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT.
Troilus (Hugo Salazar) is broken having heard of his brother Hector’s cruel death. He laments at this loss all for the lust of a woman and compares it to his own experience with Cressida. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT.
