The classic tale of a woman scorned

medeaA few seasons ago, Golden West College tried its hand at Greek tragedy with an impressive production of Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex.” Now the school is returning to that genre with Euripides’ equally powerful “Medea.”

“Over 2,000 years after its debut in ancient Greece, Euripides’ shocking and tragic story of a woman scorned still packs a wallop,” said Tom Amen, the play’s director. “The general plot line of ‘Medea’ could easily be ripped from the headlines of any given newspaper on any given day.”

The Golden West production, which opens March 3 and runs through the March 19, is Robinson Jeffers’ adaptation, which, according to Amen, “does away with many of the traditional conventions that often make Greek theater seem foreign and inaccessible to a modern audience.

“In lean, lyrical, earthy and dynamic language, Jeffers has maintained the majestic formality of the play, while exposing the very human drama of the story itself,” Amen said. “I am confident that our audiences will be startled, moved and thoroughly engaged by this play.”

Amen said that Euripides was “virtually unsurpassed” in terms of his understanding of the internal psychological world of his characters.

“Not until the time of Shakespeare would another playwright step forward to give Euripides a run for his money,” the director commented.

“He was truly unique in his time and, sadly, his work represents the last great creative burst of Greek tragedy.”

Amen also noted that, although Euripides wrote over 90 plays -- more than twice the output of Shakespeare -- only 19 have survived the passage of time.

“However, what remains is undeniable solid gold,” he said.

“Medea,” written in 431 B.C., centers on the title character, the princess of Colchis, whose love for Jason inspires her to betray her family and forsake her homeland. When Jason ultimately abandons Medea and marries a younger woman, however, he throws Medea into a jealous rage of catastrophic proportions.

The role of Medea will be played by Jill Cary Martin, a former Golden West student returning to take on one of the theater’s most challenging roles.

Tony Zeller, who was featured in “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” at the college, has been cast as Jason.

Completing the principal roles are Tom Mazzone as Creon, Jim Thoms as Aegeus, Kathleen Fabry as the nurse and Victoria Strong, Laurie Reynolds and Maria Pullman forming the Greek chorus.

“What makes Greek drama so unique is its timeless relevance to our world today,” Amen said.

“The passions and conflicts that drive these legendary characters are very much our own. I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to direct a play that represents one of Euripides’ greatest achievements as a dramatist.”20060126h3hei2kf(LA)