The ancient Greeks, UCSD classics Prof. Marianne McDonald and The Theatre, Inc. would remind one and all that war is hell, and they do, with their current production of Euripides’ “The Phoenician Woman,” continuing through May 31. The work opens The Theatre’s second season downtown. Artistic director Douglas Lay sets McDonald’s world-premiere translation in a Middle Eastern country where warring factions — led by brothers Polynices and Eteocles — wear headgear made familiar over decades of conflict in newspapers and TV reports; in this case, however, the headlines were written 2,500 years ago. Bending the usual “facts” to suit the drama — nothing new about that, either — Euripides begins his version many years after Oedipus unwittingly fulfilled the Oracle at Delphi’s prophecy by killing his father and wedding his own mother, Jocasta. Oedipus and mom had four children — the aforementioned boys, now men, and two girls, Antigone and her sister, Ismene, who doesn’t appear in Euripides’ play. When Oedipus discovered his error, he was so distraught he poked his own eyes out. Hidden away from the citizens in hopes Thebans will forget the horrible, fulfilled prophecy, Oedipus still lives in Thebes, which his son Eteocles rules. Oedipus abdicated in favor of his sons, and the original agreement was that Eteocles and Polynices would trade off the rule each year, but Eteocles decided after one year that he liked being king and refused to leave. The enraged Polynices, much to Jocasta’s consternation, has raised an army in Argos and besieges Thebes. Eteocles selects seven commanders, one for each of Thebes’ gates. Ultimately, the brothers decide on hand-to-hand combat, just the two of them. If all this rings a bell, the plot is similar to Aeschylus’ “Seven Against Thebes,” upon which La Jolla Playhouse’s musical “Seven” was based. The Theatre’s production uses modern as well as ancient weaponry as a further underscoring of the anti-war statement, especially strong in McDonald’s translation. Vince Sneddon fully utilizes the height of the venue with a two-level rampart representing one gate of the city close to Jocasta’s dwelling. The noblewoman is played by Bonnie J. Stone. Madeleine Barker portrays Antigone, Todd Dunlavey, Polynices; Javier Guerrero, Eteocles; Brian Abraham, Jocasta’s brother, Creon; Benjamin Shaffer, Creon’s young son, Meneoceus; and Fred Harlow, Oedipus and others. Melissa Hamilton, De Nae Steele, Bianca Chapman, Wendy Savage and Dagney Hollmann are Women of Phoenicia, trapped in the city by the war. Most of the actors are fine and attractive community performers, some more experienced than others. They are well-directed and normally articulate; however, they fight a losing battle against the space’s acoustics, which are so live that voices are muddled if too loud and lost if too soft. Midrange voices employed at midvolume work best, as in the case of young Mr. Shaffer and in Harlow’s final speech as Oedipus. If you go, sit in the first two rows so you can see all the action. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through May 31, The Theatre Inc., 899 C St. (under the historic Hotel Churchill). For tickets ($22-$25) and information, visit www.thetheatreince.om or call (619) 216-3016.
