The Creative Drama & Arts of the Greek Community of Melbourne celebrated its tenth anniversary last weekend with a performance called “Girls in Crisis”, a production centred on women.
The group, which was created by Katerina Poutachidou, put together the performance based on various excerpts of works from antiquity to present day, with the main theme being women.
Excerpts included scenes from “Lysitrata” and “The Ecclesiastes” by Aristophanes, “Laughing Wild” by Christopher Durang, “Destiny” by Akis Dimos, “Ο Μπιντές” by Kostas Mouselas, “With Power from Kifissia” by Dimitris Kehaidis and Eleni Khaviara and “M.A.I.R.O.Y.L.A. – Frankenstein’s Diary” by Lena Kitsopoulou.
Directed by Jeremy Artis, the show’s ensemble cast featured Ioanna Gagani, Athina Giannou, Pam Pollali, Maria Bakalidou, Niki Skouri, Efrosini Theodosiou, Eleni Baveli, Stella Katsarou, Kostas Stefanidis and Syrmo Kapoutsi.
It features women (and one man) who judge and are judged, constantly and for everything.
The characters flirt with madness, claim happiness, rebel and dream, fall in love, conspire, become passionate, agonise and struggle, become victims and perpetrators of a society in crisis.
It delves into an existential crisis, a crisis in relationships, in roles, in power, a crisis of ideas and values.
“M.A.I.R.O.Y.L.A. – Frankenstein’s Diary” stood out for its length and intensity.
Kitsopoulou’s works always provoke a lot of discussion in Greece (and sometimes reactions, as happened two years ago with the performance “Wasps” in Epidaurus).
The main character of the play is a woman who, with her caustic and ironic humor, shares with the audience an experience of empathy and escape from the relentless everyday life.
A monologue (given on stage by various actors) – an ironic commentary on the stifling clichés of our lives, the unbearable conventions that undermine our freedom, the oppressive “shoulds” and the outdated “supposedly”.
“Girls in Crisis” returns to the Doncaster Playhouse for two encore performances on May 17 and 18.
More photos below
