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What is it about this play that cries out for a dystopian interpretation? Stick a group of humans in an untenable situation and watch as they desperately try to apply some sort of social order. The never-ending conflict between Trojan and Greek evokes countless literary and pop culture references—from Lord of the Flies to The Last of Us to Yellowjackets, and the list goes on. And who better to explore this than a group of teens – we love our dystopian fiction! 

Troilus and Cressida features a troubled world, with conflicting groups trapped in a stalemate, and classic mythological heroes who are altogether too human and flawed. The play doesn’t end with a perfect climax – we don’t get that satisfying catharsis where the good guys win and bad guys get what they deserve. We’re not even sure who the good guys and the bad guys are!

Sounds like a drag … but this rehearsal process has been anything but! The passion and creativity of our cast has transformed a seemingly bleak narrative into a shared experience of discovery and camaraderie. We’ve dug into the humor and relatability in the characters’ struggles, and bonded over the challenges of portraying flawed characters, empathizing with their motivations while also critiquing their actions. We hope that our production will make you feel, make you laugh, and make you think!

Our Players are taking on the challenge of telling this story. What can you do to support them? While you are in the performance space, please keep your phone off and give them your full attention. But before you turn your phone off, we encourage you to use the QR code to read a synopsis of the story.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Dramatis Personae

THE GREEK CAMP
Agamemnon, a general … Pia Inchaurregui, 14
Ulysses, a commander … Hannah Gumpert, 15
Nestor, a commander … Atlas Taylor, 14
Diomedes, a commander … Ondine Taylor, 14
Menelaus, a commander … Kairo Pontell, 14
Achilles, a warrior … Dash Kirkley, 13
Patrocles, his best friend … Rowan Kemmerer, 13
Ajax, a warrior … Pierra Rozen-Nowac, 15
Thersites, his servant … Simon Manfredi, 12
Calchas, A Trojan defector … Hannah Love Jones, 14

THE TROJAN CAMP
Hector, Prince of Troy … David E. Landaverde-Chavez, 14
Troilus, Prince of Troy … Alexander Gumpert, 13
Paris, Prince of Troy … Hannah Love Jones, 14
Priam, King of Troy … Ondine Taylor, 14
Cassandra, their sister … Pierra Rozen-Nowac, 15
Cressida, daughter of Calchas … Veronica Sefrioui, 14
Alexandra, her friend … Rowan Kemmerer, 13
Pandarus, her uncle … Kairo Pontell, 14
Aeneas, a commander … Katya Pontell, 16
Andromache, wife to Hector … Hannah Love Jones, 14
Helen, the reason … Katya Pontell, 16
Antenor, a commander … Rowan Kemmerer, 13

Troilus and Cressida Production Team

Julia Wyson … Director
Anja Racić … Assistant Director
Alessandra Mañon … Assistant Director
Sasha Santa Cruz … Stage Manager/Technical Director
Ace Rosenthal … Assistant Stage Manager
Jesse Waldman … Dramaturg
Julia Eschenasy … Artistic Associate
Katya Pontell … Costume Design & Construction
Kairo Pontell … Costume Design & Construction
Zissy Rozen-Nowac … Cassandra Dress

Special Thanks to

Julie Gumpert, Jennie Kemmerer, Ashley Pontell, and Francesca Runza for keeping our Players fed during Techs
Zeke and the staff of the Hudson Theatres – we feel so welcome in this space, and we deeply appreciate all your generous support!

Shakespeare Youth Festival

Julia Walker Wyson, Artistic Director
J. Bailey Burcham, Executive Director

As our play opens, we meet Cassandra, a Trojan princess, daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, cursed by Apollo to have the power of prophecy but never be believed, who sets the scene, describing the years of war caused by her brother Paris stealing Helen from the Greek commander, Menelaus. Troilus, also brother to Cassandra, is madly in love with Cressida, who remained in Troy when her father Calchus defected to the Greeks, but he can’t seem to connect, so he asks her uncle, Pandarus, to play matchmaker. Pandarus sings Troilus’s praises to Cressida, as they watch the Trojan and Greek soldiers parade, but she hides her feelings, not wanting to risk getting hurt, or seeming too forward. 

Meanwhile, at the Greek camp, general Agamemnon and his commanders Ulysses, Nestor, Menelaus and Diomedes are grousing about the never-ending war. Their great soldier, Achilles, is refusing to fight. Instead, Achilles spends his time hanging around his tent complaining about his Greek commanders with his pal Patroclus, and Thersites, a scurrilous Greek servant. Ulysses and Nestor hatch a plot to make Achilles jealous by proclaiming that there will be a lottery to determine who will fight the Trojan prince, Hector (brother to Troilus and Paris). When Ajax and Achilles learn of this, havoc ensues. The Greeks do their best to foster this havoc, praising and pandering to Ajax, and ignoring Achilles. 

Back in Troy, King Priam argues with his sons, Hector and Paris. Paris had stolen Menelaus’s wife Helen seven years previously, starting the Trojan War. The arguments concern whether they should return Helen and end the conflict. But they decide to continue fighting. The princes’ sister, Cassandra, prophesises destruction for all. Their younger brother, Troilus, is increasingly distracted from the conflict by his love for Cressida.

Cressida’s uncle, Pandarus finally manages to get Troilus and Cressida to connect. They proclaim their love and all seems to be going well, but that same day, Cressida’s father arranges to exchange his daughter for a Trojan prisoner. Despite her protests, Cressida is sent away to join her father. Cressida and Troilus swear eternal loyalty to one another. 

The day of the “Hector vs. Greatest Greek Warrior” dawns, and Cressida arrives at the Greek Camp, accompanied by Diomedes, who seems to have appointed himself her protector, and who rescues her when the Greeks get a little too snarky. The Trojans enter the camp to learn that the commanders have set Ajax to fight rather than Achilles. But no sooner than they begin the duel than Hector withdraws from the fight because Ajax is related to his family. Achilles invites the Trojans to his tent to party. Meanwhile, the Greek slave Thersites rails against all mankind and the stupidity of war and conflict.

As the post-fight festivities wind down, Troilus has secretly crept away to find Cressida. Cressida does not know that he is near, and Troilus and Ulysses overhear as she talks to and flirts with Diomedes. Heartbroken, Troilus realises that Cressida has broken her vows of faithfulness. He returns to the city to fight against the Greeks.

In the final battle, Hector kills Patroclus, motivating Achilles to finally join the fighting. While originally overcome by Hector, Achilles succeeds in trapping him. Hector, unarmed, is slaughtered by Achilles. Troilus swears revenge for his brother’s death and also (inwardly) for the loss of Cressida and his youthful innocence. Pandarus, Cressida’s uncle, cynically ends the play. He sees no hope for a world where politics overrule the desires and needs of the individual.

Young friends Valentine and Proteus say farewell to one another as Valentine heads off for college, while Proteus is happy to stay home, as he is madly in love with his girlfriend, Julia. He has asked his pal, Speed, to deliver a letter, and find out whether Julia likes him (how Middle School of them!!), but Speed is not the greatest go-between. Meanwhile, Julia’s friend, Lucetta, gives her the letter from Proteus. Despite Julia’s outward nonchalance, she is delighted to have proof of his love for her.

Unfortunately, thanks to the gossipy Panthino, Proteus’ father Antonio decides that his son needs to stop being idle and sends him to follow Valentine, joined by Lance, his pal, and Lance’s dog Crabb.

Meanwhile, Valentine has fallen in love with Silvia, daughter of the Duke (AKA the President of the college). Speed, Valentine’s quick-witted page, helps Valentine realise that his love is reciprocated. Proteus, who had earnestly exchanged rings and vows of faithfulness with Julia before leaving home, arrives, sees Silvia and immediately decides that she is the woman of his dreams.

The Duke has decided to marry off his daughter to the rich and ridiculous Thurio, so Valentine decides to elope with her. However, the jealous Proteus tips off the Duke, and he discovers Valentine with a letter and a rope latterr. Valentine is banished for his scheming and leaves the court with Speed as his companion. In his absence, Proteus pretends to support Thurio, but is, in reality, wooing Silvia. They concoct a plan where Proteus will perform a love poem to help Thurio win her. The fact that Thurio thinks this is a great idea is … well, there’s a reason Silvia isn’t interested!! By the way, Silvia is not interested in Proteus either, and urges him to remember Julia.

In contrast with all this love nonsense, Lance consults with Speed about a potential marriage of practicality and convenience.

Back at home, Lucetta has helped Julia to disguise herself as Sebastian to find Proteus. They meet at the coffeehouse, after Proteus performs the love poem for Silvia, but he doesn’t recognize her … I mean, she is wearing a hat!!! He immediately enlists her to help him in his pursuit, sending her to collect a photo promised by Silvia. Silvia, meanwhile, is pining for Valentine, and persuades Eglamour to accompany her in a search for him.

The banished Valentine is captured by a band of renegade outlaws who make him their captain. Silvia is also captured by the outlaws while Sir Eglamour escapes. The Duke and Thurio take Proteus (followed by Julia/Sebastian) in pursuit of Silvia. When they find her with the outlaws, Proteus rescues her. Despite Silvia’s protests, Proteus attempts to force himself on her, but Valentine stops him.

Julia overhears the young men’s argument and their eventual reconciliation. When she hears Valentine say that he is going to give Silvia to Proteus, Julia faints (or pretends to faint) in front of them. Proteus recognises the ring she carries as the one he gave to Julia. She takes off her hat, revealing her identity, and Proteus claims that he is again in love with her. The outlaws arrive with their captives, the Duke and Thurio. Thurio denies Silvia in response to threats from Valentine, and the Duke decides that Valentine is the better man, pardons the outlaws at his request, and grants him his daughter in marriage. The boys head off to celebrate their good fortune and the upcoming weddings … but what will Julia and Silvia do?

Producing a theater festival costs money, and registrations and ticket sales cover only a portion of those costs. Your donation helps us keep the cost of tuition and registration low, makes the experience of performing in the Festival available to any and every child in Los Angeles, and assures that we can perform in a real theater, with lights and sound, dressed in beautiful costumes!!