By Iman Bakhit
Staff Writer
Luis Alfaro’s adaptation of Euripides’s Medea updates the classic Greek tragedy to modern-day Los Angeles play while maintaining all the darkness of the original tale. “Mojada: a Medea in Los Angeles”.
The quarrels of gods and kings of Euripides’s play are replaced by a suspenseful story that explores the Mexican-American immigrant experience by shining the spotlight on one family while paralleling the original story. Instead of being the granddaughter of Helios, as in the play, the Sun God, Medea is just a young mother from Mexico, escaping her horrible life on a farm with the love of her life and their only child in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles.
“Mojada” is about a family of immigrants from Mexico, trying to survive in Los Angeles, California. Medea, the main character is trying to keep up with American culture, and is unable to let go of her own. Medea’s husband, Hason, works his way up through the ranks of his job to provide a better life for their son, Acan.
In the context of the current immigration crisis going on all over the world, Euripides’s ancient tale is a very relatable one. It brings to light the everyday struggles of Mexican immigrants in California.
The set itself was sparse, yet highly effective, because of its amazing ability to transform into different scenes. Simple building scaffolding that was rolled on to the stage quickly became a house and garden by unfolding a screen. A chain fence was formed into a square that became a truck, transporting the family across the border. The set’s undulating shapes created a sensation of actually being out in the desert with Medea, running from the border guards.
The actors in the play were very experienced, and their skill was very evident throughout the performance. The darker elements of the play, Medea’s plot to kill her own child and husband’s mistress, were very much heightened because the actors transformed into their characters completely.
The classic Greek Chorus of the original play was represented here by the character “Tita,” who provided much of the expository narration. This narration was lengthy at times and felt forced and redundant. While the narration often added important information, it felt out of place and unnecessary in this setting full of action.
The play also included other unnecessary actions, including a romantic encounter between Medea and Hason. The scene did not contribute to the plot and was completely unexpected, because, one could almost feel the entire audience holding its breath, waiting for the scene to conclude.
Despite its minor flaws, this production provided ninety minutes of thought-provoking entertainment. Euripides’s Medea was brought out in a more modern way.
“Mojada: a Medea in Los Angeles” is playing at the Getty Villa from September 10th to October 3rd, Thursdays-Saturdays. Tickets range from $36 to $45.
Leave a Reply