INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE/APARIL 2, 1991

 

 

Power, Happiness Themes
of Greek Tragedy at

College

ower, corruption, and human

weakness. It’s the stuff of
today’s headlines and it’s as old as
time. It’s also one of humankind’s
fatal flaws, as proven in the classic
Greek tragedy The Bacchae, being
staged by Douglas College Theatre
Department.

At the heart of the timeless
work is Pentheus, king of Thebes.
Pentheus is wealthy and admired,
but in the tradition of Greek
tragedy, he has a flaw — his ego.
And that’s all the gods need to get
him.

“The play is about the struggle
for power and ego, which is man’s
tragic flaw. This play is saying
that power destroys,” said theatre
student Tracey de’Jaray, who plays
the role of Semele, mortal mother
of Dionysos, god of wine and
pleasure in Greek mythology.

Trouble begins for Pentheus
when Dionysos, son of Zeus,
comes to Thebes and discovers he
is not being worshipped there. In
revenge, Dionysos incites the
women of the Bacchae into a
strange, ritualistic dance of wor-

ship to him, which no men are al-
lowed to see, for it destroys them.
Then Dionysos entices Pentheus
into witnessing the forbidden
dance.

Acentral message on
humankind’s definition of happi-
ness is delivered by Dionysos him-
self. “Life passes so fast — know-
ing that, who would chase great-
ness, and lose the sweet life al-
ready in our hands? Men die on
the track of such glory — but I call
what they do madness.” This is a
crux, because it forces us to ex-
amine our definitions of happi-
ness. Pentheus is a power-seeking
egoist, but so is Dionysos, and
there is the moral question. We
want the pleasure and freedom
that the Bacchae have, but how do
we find it? Through power and
conquest? That’s for the audience
to decide.

And decide they will, says de’-
Jaray. “It’s not a safe play,” she
says. “The audience sits in the set;
they become members of the
society. It eliminates that safe dis-
tance that they usually have. It in-

 

  

 

the power of the gods... the weakness of man...

douglas college

The Bacchae
A play by Euripides

April 4, 5, 6 & 10, L1, 12 & 13 at 8pm
2 for 1 nights - April 3 (preview night)
and April 10

Studio Theatre, Douglas College

Tickets: 527 - 5488

 

 

vites the audience to look at them-
selves, and to openly express what
they’re feeling by participating.”

But it isn’t easy, when making a
moral offering, for an entire cast to
agree on what the answer is, or
even what the question should be.
Director Christine Menzies says
that the message of the play had to
be analyzed collectively for the
moralizing vehicle to travel
anywhere.

“We've had long discussions on
our objectives, and where we have
separate opinions. We knew what
everybody was thinking, so the
idea for an objective became a
perspective. We came to a com-
mon donominator on the play,”
she says. However, the range of
choices and decisions that the
audience will be offered does not
prevent each cast member from of-
fering his or her own view. “Each
actor can choose to say something
about the morality of the play.”

Ultimately, the message is that
we should sieze the day. “The
answer is that you live your life as
happy as you can be right now,
today, by seeing the beauty all
around you,” says de’Jaray. “The
gifts that Dionysos passed on to
society are available to all of us.”

The Bacchae runs April 4 to 6
and April 10 to 13 at 8 pm in the
Studio Theatre. Also, there are 2
for 1 special preview nights on
April 3 at 8 pm and April 10. Tick-
ets are $6, or $4 for students and
seniors. For information and reser-
vations, call 527-5488. @

Financial Planning —
RRSP’s

Thursday, April 11 — 0900 - 1030
Presenters: Eric Sommerfeld,
Investment Advisor, RBC
Dominion Securities Pemberton
TBA, Accountant

This session will provide par-
ticipants with the opportunity to
hear from experts in the field
about the new regulations for
RRSP contributions for the coming
year.

For more information or to
register, contact Personnel (local
5440). @