New York Premiere of Letter From Orestes

Letter to Orestes," by celebrated and contempary Greek playwright Iakovos Kambanellis, will make its debut on Thursday, February 17th at The Marquee on the Bowery. Directed by Richard S. Bach, this production will mark the first time the play has been performed in New York City and the premiere of the new translation.

(PRWEB) February 4, 2005 -- The one-woman monologue, based on the Greek story of the House of Atreus involving Clytemnestra and the murder of her husband, Agamemnon, has long been noted in Europe for allowing Clytemnestra to speak for herself. The much maligned queen asks her son Orestes to understand her choices and decisions. In doing so, she brings a clear perspective to her beliefs against war, the subordination of women and the misuse of power for superficial gain.

Letter to Orestes" is written as it is performed, in a sense. Clytemnestra reads, writes and revises her letter in real time as she hopes to reach her estranged son Orestes as well as her alienated daughter Electra and change the course of their tragic destiny. The letter illuminates and expands upon scenes both accounted for by the canon of Greek mythology as well as an alternate history, replete with more scenes and insights as envisioned by the playwright. Through her voice, Kambanellis richly expands upon the doomed and normally despised Queens character, exploring her predicament and developing her perspective - one which has renewed relevance at present. While the story is Clytemnestras, it also belongs to every mother who loses her children to war.

Mr. Bach is a noted director, writer and actor whose vision will once again reinvent Greek mythology. His past production of Antigone Through Time" was reviewed by the NY Times as ...visually striking from beginning to end... [the direction is disciplined and sharp." Mr. Bach has written his own version of the tragic story of Electra called H." The new translation of Letter to Orestes" is by Stelios Stylianou, a native of Cyprus where he classically trained as an actor and in dramatic arts. Now a Manhattan-based fashion stylist, Mr. Stylianou will design the production, while acting as dramaturge. In keeping with the non-archaic vision of both the writer and director, he employed language neither conspicuously modern nor ancient.

Clytemnestra will be played by Carleigh Welsh, a Manhattan-based actress who met Mr. Bach while they both appeared at the Performance Garage in Richard Kimmels Puss." Ms. Welsh, who studied at Brandeis and Circle in the Square, has appeared Off-Broadway, including Ensemble Studio Theatre, as well as in award-winning independent films, most recently Rosa X-Rays Joe," winner of Best Experimental Short at the New York Erotic Film Festival.

Performances at 8PM
Thursday through Monday, February 17-21 plus Monday, February 28th
The Marquee on Bowery, 354 Bowery, between 3rd and 4th Streets
Ticket Price: $15, students $10
Reservations: The Marquee on Bowery (212) 475-1975

For More Information or high-res j-peg:
Carleigh Welsh
917-842-5681
carleigh@gmail.com

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