Troilus and Cressida: Touchdown for Love?
Troilus and Cressida photo by Stan Barouh
What do the characters of William Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida have in common with the youth of 2016? They are powerful, boisterous and relay the news of the latest love triangles via text message. The UMD School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies’ production of Troilus and Cressida provides a modern take on a classic war tale of two rivaling ancient powers in the pursuit of land and love. To those viewers expecting to see the aftermath of a great war in the ruins of Troy, one might be surprised to find the battlefield of mid-13th century BCE adorned with lively infusions of modernity including: track suits with toga-like sashes and traditional ancient battle armor placed atop football jerseys. This adaptation takes inspiration from a high school homecoming football game to tell this story in a reimagined way. Interspersed between tense war scenes, this production also enjoys a soundtrack of many 21st century popular music hits which provide a welcome relief from the strife brought on by the spirited battle scenes.
