As everyone has said, watching Clytemnestra was an unreal experience to say the least. The piece itself seemed to me to break up quite perfectly, giving us a lens through which to look at each character and then throwing us into the depths of drama. The signature movements that we have discussed and explored both in repertory class and composition shined throughout the entire performance, each character having a gesture or piece of choreography that so clearly defined their character and what he or she was all about.
Furthermore, I was particularly struck by the use of the sets. The pieces themselves are simple and yet so perfectly frame the story and actions that occur on and around them. Whether it was Clytemnestra glaring from her throne or the bodies strewn across the platform in the nightmare sequence, each set piece played a role in emphasizing the flow of the story and the message of Graham’s work.
Finally, I loved the universality of this piece. While, as we have discussed in class, the story is very timely, the greater message seems to transcend time and really affect all audiences.
I have loved learning, watching, and exploring the repertory of the Graham Company; it helps leaps and bounds in understanding the method to Martha’s madness, or shall we say brilliance…
