Olympia Dukakis returns to her Hecuba, this time in San Francisco at the American Conservatory Theatre. The show, which began previews Oct. 16, opened Oct. 21 and runs through Nov. 22. This production, directed by American Conservatory Theatre Artistic Director Carey Perloff, finished off 1998's Williamstown Theatre Festival in August.
Hecuba, translated by Timberlake Wertenbaker from Euripedes' ancient Greek text, is the tragedy of the widow of King Priam, who, when exiled, plots to destroy all those who attempted to destroy her and her people.
Dukakis will be rejoined by her Williamstown co-stars Marco Barricelli as Odysseus, L. Peter Callender as Agamemnon, Steven Anthony Jones as Polymestor, Apollo Dukakis (Olympia's brother) as Talthibios and as the chorus, the Bay Area's KITKA, an ensemble of women who blend specialized vocal techniques from Eastern Europe with contemporary styles. Rozanne Raja will play Hecuba's daughter Polyxena.
D.F. Draper redesigned the the costumes for Hecuba and the male character while Kate Edmunds designed a new set specifically aimed to take advantage of the Geary stage. Peter Maradudin designed the lighting and Garth Hemphill the sound. David Lang composed the original score, sung live by KITKA.
Tickets for ACT's Hecuba are $55-$11 and are avaiable at the Geary Theatre box office, by calling (415) 749-2228 or online at http://www.actsfbay.org. The Geary Theatre is located at 415 Geary Street.
-- By Christine Ehren and Robert Simonson
