A storm of violence is brewing, a roaring thunder of revenge and destruction. It’s a tragedy thousands of years old— soon to come to life through vocal lightning strikes, uttered by a single actor.
This violence, which started with Homer’s epic, will be remembered through Actors Collaborative Toledo’s (ACT) upcoming reading of Denis O’Hare, Lisa Peterson and Robert Fagle’s 2012 staged translation of “An Iliad,” performed by Paul Causman and directed by Barbara Barkan.
All of us, all at once
The man most of Toledo knows as Scrooge— in his yearly persona with The Toledo Rep’s “A Christmas Carol”— is currently preparing to take on a markedly different role. Causman will have no chorus, no props, no dialogue— he will be the single actor, a storyteller, with a script based on a story that has stood the test of time.
“It’s a lot of play,” said Causman, laughing. “The poem is about war. It’s not so much anti-war, but it’s about the humanity of war, the human condition, and our being in war all the time. It’s about violence, our addiction to rage and destruction… It is still so incredibly relevant to things going on in the world today.”
Using parts from Homer’s original epic, translated and woven with modern concerns— like someone cutting you off on the highway— “An Iliad” exposes revenge, vengeance, and violence to be nothing more than part of our humanity. Exhibiting the same illustrious metaphor, “An Iliad” is weighted by its own hidden meanings: the nameless man Causman will portray is all of us.
“[My] character… seems obligated to come back throughout history during wartime. It’s his fate to come back and retell this story,” explained Causman. “It’s [a story about] death, life, love, violence, destruction, rebuilding, it’s humanity… It’s the same as if it were in our DNA. It’s still a part of us today. Those kind of themes are underneath the storytelling.”
The act of storytelling
For Causman, his role in “An Iliad” is unlike anything he has done before. “This is paired down to the moment of the actor and audience, and that’s it,” said Causman. “It’s very exciting to not have to be another character— I can be me, talking to you, and you understand it because you’re you… Sometimes what can happen between and audience and a storyteller, in the minds of the audience, it is much more powerful than what you could ever put on a stage.”
Serving as ACT’s first benefit gala, “An Iliad” strikes a chord with ACT’s philosophy of showing contemporary theater that illustrates the power of an actor and a story.
“As far as the experience for the audience, “An Iliad” boils down to the language and the connection between teller and audience,” said John DuVall, a co-founder of ACT. “Causman is one of the icons of the Toledo theater scene and we are excited to have him.”
ACT will use proceeds from the gala to create educational workshops for high school actors, as well funding for the group’s second full season as a 501c3 non-profit.
7pm wine and hors d’oeuvres reception and fishbowl raffle,
featuring works by local artists and services, & 8pm curtain,
Saturday, April 16 | $20.
Trinity Episcopal Church | 316 Adams St.
419-205-0409 | Act419.org
