Drama, dance, and Greek-style tragedy merge in Lysistrata Unbound, playwright Eduardo Machado and director-choreographer John Farmanesh-Bocca’s stunning reenvisioning of Aristophanes’ 2400-year-old tale of a woman who takes antiwar protests to a decidedly personal level.

As in the ancient Greek original, playwright Marchado’s title character unites the female populace in saying no to sex until the menfolk agree to lay down arms and give up warring for good.

 Unlike the comedic 411 BC original, however, Lysistrata Unbound goes for the dramatic jugular with a title character so overwhelmed by grief for her slain son Achaikos that she maintains a month-long vigil beside his rotting corpse, resolutely disobeying the orders of her son’s superior officer (and onetime lover) Adeimantus.

 Coproducing with Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, Farmanesh-Bocca’s Not Man Apart – Physical Theatre Ensemble makes it clear from the get-go just how physical Lysistrata Unbound will be, bare-chested soldiers engaging in mortal combat that would do the finest dance troupe proud while signaling that what lies ahead will definitely not be your ancestors’ Greek tragedy.

Indeed, there’s scarcely an ensemble scene not choreographed with Farmanesh-Bocca’s strikingly synchronized moves performed by barely clothed male combatants and elegantly gowned wives and courtesans, movement gorgeously lit by Bosco Flanagan with an almost nonstop musical underscoring to do any Hollywood epic proud.

 Physical as Lysistrata Unbound most definitely is, Marchado and Farmanesh-Bocco stint not an iota on the dramatic as Lysistrata (Brenda Strong), like real-life anti-Iraq-war activist Cindy Sheehan, defies a mighty Senator (Apollo Dukakis), the aforementioned Adeimantus (Vito D’Ambrosio), and soldier after soldier in her quest to end all wars, even those fought in the name of “democracy.”

Among those opposing Lysistrata’s protest is barely legal Hagnon (Jason Caceres), who in Ancient Greek tradition served as her son’s mentee in matters both military and sexual just as Achaikos had for Adeimantus before aging out of the role.

Before long, Lysistrata has on her side women like Myrrhine (Sierra Fisk), whose soldier husband Kinnesias (Aaron Hendry) gets his sex from whores, his thrills from wars, and babies from his wife; Efimia (Cynthia Yelle), who ends her near invisibility by revealing her identity as wife of someone near and not so dear to Lysistrata; and Courtesan (Sydney A. Mason) and her fellow ladies of the night, with Calonice (Laura Emanuel) the sole holdout against “uppity bitch” Lysistrata.

 Machado’s dialog, a mix of the classical and the contemporary, befits both the genre he is honoring and the message he has to impart, as vital in today’s war-crazed world as in the time of the Greeks.

Indeed, it is only when Lysistrata’s plan begins to take hold and husbands find themselves pitted against revolting wives that Lysistrata Unbound reveals its comedic roots, a tonal shift that jars a bit at first but ends up a welcome respite before darkness once again envelopes the stage.

 The magnificent Strong gives a towering lead performance, digging deep into a grieving mother’s anguish and rage.

 From seasoned vets like the always imposing Dukakis and the testosterone-propelled D’Ambrosio and Hendry to spunky newcomer Caceres, supporting male performances are all-around splendid and the women are every bit as terrific, with Emanuel, Fisk, Mason, and Yelle as fiery as they are fabulous, all of the above sharing acting/dance/athletic snaps with Jo Bateman, Laura Covelli, Steven Jasso, Casey Maione (Achaikos), Dash Pepin, Briana Price, and Jones (Welsh) Talmadge.

 Scenic designer Mark Guirguis provides a broad and striking canvas for Farmanesh-Bocca and his troupe to tell their timeless tale, with additional design kudos due costumers Denise Blasor and Josh La Cour, properties designer La Cour, and sound designers Adam Phalen and Farmanesh-Bocca.

Alina Bolshhava, Talmadge, and Not Man Apart company are associate choreographers. Jonathan David Martin is dramaturg and assistant director. Jenny Nwene is stage manager.

Lysistrata Unbound is produced by Beth Hogan and Ron Sossi in association with Gloria Levy.

Never less than visually stunning and every bit as powerful an antiwar play as one set in today’s Iraq or Afghanistan or Syria, Lysistrata Unbound is Not Man Apart – Physical Theatre Ensemble at their one-of-a-kind best and the latest must-see World Premiere production from Odyssey Theatre Ensemble.

Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 2055 South Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles.
www.odysseytheatre.com

–Steven Stanley
July 11, 2018
Photos: Enci Box

Tags: Brenda Strong, Eduardo Machado, Los Angeles Theater Review, Not Man Apart—Physical Theatre Ensemble, Odyssey Theatre Ensemble