Submitted by chris on
Last month, Carol and I were fortunate to attend the final performance of “The Heal” at the beautiful outdoor theater at the Getty Villa in Malibu. A modern re-imagining of Sophocles’ “Philoctetes”, “The Heal” brings the classic tale of wounding, betrayal, redemption and the essential power of truth vividly to life. Written and directed by Aaron Posner and performed by a small but positively-electric cast, “The Heal” tells the classic tale of the wounded Philoctetes, abandoned by Odysseus years ago on a deserted island. Now, Odysseus needs Philoctetes’ magical bow to win the Trojan War and, with the help of the young Nia, daughter of Achilles, conspires to trick Philoctetes to give them the bow. What follows is a classic struggle of universal themes - what it means to be wounded, both physically and spiritually, the importance of the truth and trust over deceit and betrayal, and ultimately the redemptive power of human connection.
I have seen a lot of dramatic theater over the years, but I confess to have been exceptionally moved by this work. I have not experienced very much classic Greek theater, but having seen “The Heal”, appreciate the power of the universal human themes portrayed in much of this particular theatrical form. Philoctetes reaches easily across 2500 years of history to resonate powerfully in modern times! In the age of fake news and a growing disregard for the truth, Aaron has masterfully adapted this work for the 21st century.
The Chorus was played magnificently by three young women who set the tone and context of the play for us. Realizing many audience members such as myself were not familiar with classic Greek theater, they wove history and mythology into a tapestry very relatable to modern viewers. They engaged the audience directly and we had no choice but to be drawn into the story, forcing us to dust off our individual memories of Greek mythology, untouched perhaps since school days.
A simple, yet powerful soundtrack written and performed by Cliff Eberhardt framed the performance beautifully. Sung and played from the stage on a solo guitar, Cliff reminded us that, “everyone is wounded...”, encouraging us to look into ourselves and those around us for the pains we carry and the pains we inflict upon others.
I left the theater totally moved, uplifted, inspired to better purpose and I couldn’t help but feel that this was exactly what Greek dramatic theater has always been about. Stories of gods and humans struggling with eternal themes, told with minimal staging, in a simple stone amphitheater under the vast canopy of the night sky - this is the power of Sophocles’ art!
I highly recommend “The Heal” to anyone who enjoys dramatic theater. If a production comes to your town, do not miss it!
