A modern translated performance of The Trojan Women was presented in the Black Box Theatre on the campus of Georgia Southern University.

With five weeks of preparation and rehearsal, the play ran from Friday, February, 27th through Saturday, March, 7th.

“We had a week break,” said Laura Lamelas, actress and chorus leader, “but we practiced everyday since school started.”

Andromache (Bailey McClure) comforts her son Astyanax (Kian DeVine).

The show was a modern interpretation of Euripides' original production The Trojan Women by Ellen McLaughlin.

“McLaughlin takes Euripides’ work and stays true to the themes and universal nature of the original making while making it accessible to a modern audience,” said Director at GSU Lisa Abott.

In The Trojan Women, the setting is the aftermath of the infamous Trojan and Greek war where women refugees are left outside of Trojan gates.

The play represents the effects on not only the area that is affected by war, but what battle does to the people and children who reside in that area.

“All wars have victims,” said Abott, “Those who face the weapons of their capturers without protection, whose only role in the conflict is that they live there.”

Hecuba, Queen of Troy, played by Ellen George, was left with other women to protect themselves from Greek victors.

“Hecuba tries to stay in a state of calm,” said George, “But the calm goes away after her grandson gets killed.”
The last Trojan male left was Hecuba’s grandson, but the Greeks were ordered to kill him.

The Trojan War and its aftermath are comparable to situations of modern times where war is still an issue around the world and innocent women and children are being killed.

“You have to keep hope,” said George, “No matter what goes on with life; all you have is God.”

The performance ends when the women are taken by the wars' victors and enslaved.

Shari Blackburn