Helen of Euripides, by the Theater Company I ALLI PLEVRA

Having as purpose the encouragement of theatrical literacy in the educational field, the Theater Company “I
ALLI PLEVRA (THE OTHER SIDE)”, that conducts studies, research and create live performances on scene, for ancient drama plays since 2001, proudly presents the tragedy “Helen” by Euripides, that is taught in secondary education, directed by Aris Michopoulos at “Michael Cacoyannis” Foundation.

Perhaps, the element that fascinates the most, as far as this particular play is concerned, is the transformation. It seems, as if the myth stares itself in the mirror and sees its own self, smiling, maybe ironically or even with a slight bitterness. Euripides takes the story that we all have been taught firstly, before any other text, in the high school books, that of the Helen’s rape, and, without changing anything to the original subject, perverts the image on the mirror, in a poetic and allusive way.

Name spreads all over, not the body (Helen line 588). And if the name has been colored with the most nigrescent colors, as the cause of a bloody war, the object of lust, the incarnation of the ultimate beauty has flew away like a cloud to the country of Nile. There settles also the poet the action of his tragedy, Helen accompanied by her attendant ladies, the meeting as well as the reunion with Menelaus, Theone who holds in her hands the solution of the drama, Theoklymenos who desires to have the lady who is said that caused so much pain with her beauty to Greeks as well as Trojans.

However, “The nightingales do not let you fall asleep at Platres”. Because, the reasons may be presented differently, the body to be replaced by the image. However the facts linger as well as their effects. Furthermore their eternal value. In no war dead people return back home. Moreover people can never be taught by death how hopeless chasing of shadows is, having as conveyance violence and egoism. It is not just for the instauration of the heroine’s fame and name. However, it is all about the sarcasm of those who abused her name in order to give an excuse to their obsession of chasing “empty shirts” so as to fulfill individual longings. Mirrors, shadows and images… Materials for the performance, all these that someone cannot touch, all these, which are mirrors and illusions and not the objects themselves. The aim is to unveil finally those which can touch us more, which make us feel fear or ashamed. The mirror which shows us not the image, but our real self.