Mercy Vasquez's production of Timberlake Wertenbaker's contemporary Greek tragedy began slightly out of step, which was perhaps attributable to it being opening night. About 20 minutes in, however, the ensemble cast found its cadence, ultimately delivering the powerful play with fluid ease. First performed in England by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1988, the play uses the story of two Athenian sisters, Procne and Philomele, to give a commentary on men, women, love, and war. Wertenbaker's strong women characters give a feminist twist to an ancient myth.
One of the successes of Vasquez's production is careful casting. Jim Gohrick (Tereus) is impressive as the dark, powerful king of Thrace. He commands a great intensity with his presence that is the foundation for his character's drastic temper. Shelby Medlang (Procne) looks to be from another era. Her Procne is nervous, unsure, determined, and deceived, yet always regal. Amber Lopez (Philomele) is delightful as the younger, wide-eyed sister of Procne. Her tirade against Tereus after he has raped her is a triumph of writing and performance. The trope of the Greek chorus works well here, with the queen's coterie of women and the king's entourage of soldiers serving as characters in the narrative, as well as vocal observers.
Interspersed throughout the play are video images projected onto a screen, a device that I do not find necessary. A video montage of rape scenes shows us what is taking place offstage. But Philomele's screams and protests achieve the desired effect of wrenching our stomachs without this visual aid.
While often not the case in a production of this size, attention was paid to every detail that appears onstage. The choreography (Katherine LaPrad), the set and lighting design (Wayne Tardiff), and the costuming and hairstyling work together in unison, bringing a cohesive vision to the whole. In turn, this effort draws the viewer into the material, allowing its strength and power to speak for itself.
"The Love of the Nightingale," presented by Non-Prophet Hatching Company, in association with Theatre/Theater, at Theatre/Theater, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., 4th floor, Hollywood. Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m. May 11-June 23. (323) 463-2573.