Theatre Review: “Sons and Daughters” | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Theatre Review: “Sons and Daughters”

Anecdotes of Memory: A Tale of Hellenic Culture

33
Theatre Review: “Sons and Daughters”

“Sons and Daughters:” Anecdotes of Memory

The temptation is strong, when writing about one’s country and roots, to dwell in what it could have been, but never actually became. The play “Sons and Daughters” as directed elegantly by Lyto Triantafyllidou is a beautiful choro-drama of music, lively narratives, energizing scenes and nostalgic scenery. This is a play, written by Yiannis Kalavrianos and trust me, it is worth seeing more than once.

Have Your Voice Heard: Become an Odyssey Creator

A socially conscious work, this play is based on the interviews of Greek people, recalling a life-changing story. Call them anecdotes of memory, full of hope and yearning for what the life of these individuals could have been, had it not been for the startling socio-political circumstances of modern Greece that changed their life dramatically. The setting of the play is simple, four chairs and a table, some coffee cups and a beautiful ivy plant on the background wall. Somewhat like a boat, somewhat like a tavern, the setting is ephemeral, but solidified in its cultural significance. There is a projector, with English subtitles. Rather minimalist, it allows for the stories to speak for themselves and for the audience to experience stories of commonality, that all Greeks are familiar with.

To reminisce a phrase by our Greek internationally acclaimed poet Odysseas Elytis, “If you take Greece apart, in the end you will see

remaining to you an olive tree, a vineyard, and a ship. Which means: with just so much you can put her back together.”

Similarly, “Sons and Daughters” reconstructs this simple painting of a country, where the people and their stories is what matters. Their struggle for happiness, love, hope and fulfillment in a crumbling world of uncertainty, betrayal, war, oppression and natural catastrophe. The audience travels with the actors through the great migration, World War Two, the occupation, civil war, the catastrophic Kefalonia earthquake, the rising of the Berlin wall, the junta and Greece in the years of the restoration of democracy.

The actors, Fotis Batzas, Mantalena Papadatou, Nikos Siozos and Alexandra Skendrou impersonate these stories with honesty and artistic mastery. They own the characters and as watching a movie, one reminisces the world of different dances and feels their life passing, like a choro-drama. One gets a glimpse of the Rebetiko dances of the ports and cities, the world of “Zorba The Greek” (1964) and the island naiveté of the “Captain Corelli’s Mantolin” (1994).

One cannot help but remember, Melina Mercouri, Anthony Quinn, Jules Dassin et al, important international figures, that gave us stories to remember and narrated a story of daily people. The music and the haunting voice of actress, Alexandra Skendrou, reminds us of these movie nights, we grew up with. She is the voice of reason, experience, artistic endeavor and the harsh reality that surrounds the life of the individualist. Actress, Matalena Papadatou emanates the innocence and beauty of a young Greek. Her naiveté and lightness, irrespective of the daunting circumstances is a tale of the individual choosing love over the daunting social reality. She follows her lover with loyalty and dedication, never faltering in her choice to give to others. Actor, Fotis Batzas, is the adventurer, a Zorba, even perhaps, an opportunist with an idealist streak for greater freedom and perseverance. A voice of hope in the hopeless. Actor, Nikos Siozos gravitates from a starry eyed man, to an authoritarian figure, giving us a different glimpse of his artistic abilities.

The anecdotes of these actors stand tall. The actors tell us of how the Greek Cultural Center was created. We learn about Dimitri, a killer of a captain of the military that came as a fugitive in the USA, to work for 27 years and build a fortune only to die, before being granted asylum to return back to Greece. We learn about Maria, that followed her man, from America all the way to Greece and back. We learn about young men and women falling in love in the underground bomb shelters, while the city of Thessaloniki is being destroyed (1940). We learn about the earthquake, about art, the love of Plousia for the theatre and her debut in Carnegie Hall. We learn about dance, music, theatre, culture and the art of our ancestors.

This is a memento of a memory, a nostalgic symphony of the beauty of existence no matter the hardships and the socio-political turmoil of a country.

This is the tale of modern Greece: A tale of perseverance, courage and above all, love and passion. Beautifully deconstructed, for your eyes to see and your hearts to feel.

A warm thanks to the Greek Cultural center of Astoria (GCC) in the perpetuation of Greek culture in the Greek American community.

Playwright by: Yannis Kalavrianos. Directed by: Lyto Triantafyllidou. Cast: Fotis Batzas, Mantalena Papadatou, Nikos Siozos and Alexandra Skendrou. Set & Light Design: Viktoria Mastrogiannopoulou. Costume Design: Sofia-Niki Tsortanidis. Sound Direction: Alexandra Skendrou. Assistant Director: Flavia Sgoifo. Music: Nikitas Tampakis.

Recommended for: Everybody and anybody, with the only requirement, a sense of humor.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

3133
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1887
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

201158
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21517
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments