Penthesilea: Queen of the Amazons

presented by Actors Ensemble and Inferno Theatre

Saturday-Sunday, September 6-7, 4:00PM (amphitheater opens at 3:00PM for picnics)

John Hinkel Park Amphitheatre, 41 Somerset Avenue, Berkeley

Free

http://infernotheatre.org/shows

https://www.facebook.com/events/746896931996213

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/Parks_Rec_Waterfront/Trees_Parks/Parks__John_Hinkel_Park.aspx

“Penthesilea: Queen of the Amazons

Adapted and directed by Giulio Perrone

From the play by Heinrich Von Kleist

Heinrich Von Kleists’s Penthesilea recounts the story of Penthesilea and Achilles. The play begins as Penthesilea leads the Amazons into the Trojan War, interrupting the Greek/Trojan conflict to take male captives from both sides.

Their plans go awry when Penthesilea’s second-in-command and confidante, Prothoe, falls in love with a captive soldier, and to make matters worse, Penthesilea finds herself irredeemably attracted to their escaped captive Achilles.  Their final confrontation is an intense exploration of the nature of attraction and the conflict between love and duty.  Von Kleist’s work has long been renowned both for the play’s beautiful language and the challenges of staging it.  Taking advantage of the freedom of an outdoor setting, Mr. Perrone, Inferno, and Actors Ensemble are using action to compress the text, while at the same time adding a few flourishes to make the work appealing to a wide audience.

Performances are Free  at 4:00PM Saturdays and Sundays, August 23-September 7, with a special performance at 4:00PM on Labor Day, Monday, September 1.

The amphitheatre seats well over 200 people.  We are accepting reservations, these are intended mostly for the elderly and disabled, large groups, and people traveling long distances.  Call 510-649-5999 for a reservation. Write info@aeofberkeley.org for more information.

The amphitheatre is at 41 Somerset Place, Berkeley, CA 94707.  From the Marin Circle (top of Marin Avenue), take Arlington Avenue north to Southampton.  Make a right on Southampton and continue straight onto Somerset Place when Southampton veers left.  GOOGLE MAPS will lead you to the top of the park, which is a LONG HIKE UP from the amphitheatre.  Parking is available along Somerset, Southampton, and in the large open area at the end of Somerset.  Wheelchair and disabled folks have easy access from the end of Somerset.”