Frequent Public Theatre helmer Brian Kulick (Pericles, The Winter's Tale and Kit Marlowe) brings Charles L. Mee's Big Love to Seattle's A Contemporary Theatre, where the comic battle of the sexes plays out April 26-May 20. Previews began April 20.
Mee's Humana Festival 2000 hit Big Love is a reinterpretation of Aeschylus' The Suppliant Women performed on a wrestling mat. In this ancient tale, fifty women are engaged to fifty brothers without their consent. They run away to Italy, but when finally tracked down by the grooms, each vows to give a wedding night their husbands will never forget.
Starring in the A Contemporary Theatre staging are Hope Chernov (Lydia), Kirsten Potter (Olympia), Danielle Skraastad (Thyona), Michel Bakkensen (Nikos), C.J. Wilson (Constantine), Jeremy Shaw (Oed), Jose J. Gonzales (Giuliano), Peter A. Jacobs (Piero/Leo), Judith Roberts (Bella/Eleanor), Anna Rosa Bjornsson, Melissa Brooks and Magda Rook.
Frequent Atlantic Theatre designer Walt Spangler designed the sets; Anita Yavish, the costumes; 1999 Obie winner Michael Chybowski, the lighting; and Dominic CodyKramers [sic], the sound. Naomi Goldberg created Big Love's specialized movement.
A Contemporary Theatre is located at Kreielsheimer Place at the corner of 7th Avenue and Union Street. For tickets (25-$42), call (206) 292-7676. ACT is on the web at http://www.accttheatre.org. — By Christine Ehren
