Don’t expect to see any togas in the musical “Good Morning Athens.” The University Theatre’s second production of the school year, which opens Friday, will be full of contemporary music, language, costumes and political themes.
Former University of Wyoming student Sean Keogh wrote the musical, which he based on the ancient Greek play “Lysistrata.” The production tells the tale of a Greek community whose leader, General Tantalos, is up for re-election. Tantalos, who bought himself into office the first time, decides to go to war for no reason other than to increase his chances of re-election. The women in the community decide to protest the war by refusing to have sex with their husbands until the fighting stops, and their vows of celibacy become a hot topic on the local TV show, “Good Morning Athens.” University Theatre Development Director Joseph Gilg said although the show sends a serious political message, it is heavily comedic.
“It’s a spoof and a farce; it pokes fun at politics and war,” he said. “People will read into those deeper, darker meanings, and that’s fine because they’ll laugh. It’s like watching ‘The Daily Show.’”
Gilg said he and other theater department staff members chose the production after viewing it last winter at a college theater festival at the University of Idaho. He added that it makes references to World War I and II, Adolf Hitler and the current situation with oil and the war in Iraq.
“We thought it was very
exciting and timely,” Gilg said. “At this point in American history, this play has a certain resonance with everyone, we think.”
Cast members were selected last spring and reviewed the script and music over the summer, but they only began rehearsing this term. Senior theater arts student Sarah Griner, who plays Lysistrata, the wife of General Tantalos and leader of the women’s peace movement against sex, said she enjoys the modern aspects of the show and working with other women.
“I love how this part allows me to reach back into my feminine side,” she said. “I’m onstage with girls most of the time, and it’s like having a girls’ night out. It allows for natural acting qualities. This show has a lot of contemporary characters whom people can relate to.”
Today’s society is reflected in the show’s sets, costumes and music, which include graffiti-painted buildings, street-wear, army fatigues and a mixture of rap, hip-hop and rock tunes.
Senior theater arts student Deric Davis, who plays Herodotus, one of the husbands, said he loves that the show is hilarious yet sends out a message of peace. He added that one challenging aspect of the production was getting used to a large amount of physical contact with other actors.
“It’s such a touchy-feely show; there’s a lot of groping and feeling, and that was different for me,” he said. “It was quite strange to jump into that and do sexual things. In one scene, the women are trying to entice the men and make them horny, and they’re really touching and rubbing and dancing in front of them.”
Although the show’s message takes a stance against war, Davis said it shouldn’t offend viewers who supported the war in Iraq.
“I can see how it would be controversial, and people could read into it, but I think the message is a good message,” he said. “It’s a message of peace.”
The University Theatre will present “Good Morning Athens” at the Robinson Theatre Friday, Saturday and Nov. 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 8 p.m.; Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m.; and Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $6 for University students; $11 for University staff, faculty, seniors and non-University students; and $14 for the general public. Tickets can be purchased at the EMU Ticket Office.

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