Medea

Jean Cocteau Repertory presents the world premiere translation by Joseph Goodrich of Euripides’ Medea, directed by Cocteau Artistic Director, Ernest Johns. When Jason of the Argonauts deserts his wife so he can marry the princess of Corinth, Medea crafts a brutal plot to exact revenge on her fickle husband. Her deeds call into question the very essence of family and motherhood, juxtaposing the anger of betrayal and lost love.

“At the heart of Euripides’s play is a story about the intense break-up of a man and woman, leading to an act of horrific domestic violence (with a twist in that the woman is the perpetrator). Men leaving their wives for other (often younger) women, is a story as old as marriage itself. But behind the passion of Medea and Jason’s marriage is a mutual lust for power, and a concerted effort on both their parts to attain it. In a culture where a woman’s ability to rise was sharply curtailed, her only option to acquire influence was through her husband. When the husband decides to pursue his route to power through another woman (in this case the daughter of the king), his wife’s jealousy combines with her thwarted ambition to produce lethal results. Joseph Goodrich’s modern adaptation of this timeless classic captures the passion and immediacy of this tragic relationship.” — Ernest Johns, director

“Really Daring…” – New York Times

“You have to love the Jean Cocteau Repertory Theatre — the place is devoted to giving classic plays shiny new productions, in a great little downtown theater that puts every member of the audience up close to the action.” – Theatre Scene.net

“As Jason, Pascal Beauboeuf has a booming voice, which in his quieter moments he uses to demonstrate a chilly rationality.” – NY Times

“Ernest Johns’s direction is tight and his vision of highlighting the horrific tragedy with blood and passion is clear.” – nytheatre.com

“Ramona Floyd is fine and bitter and compulsively watchable in the title role.” – Theatre Scene.net

“Elsie James steals some laughs as the Nanny. Taylor Wilcox’s speech as the Messenger with all the bad news is singularly terrific.” – nytheatre.com