Review By Susannah Whitman, Front Row Reviewers
Mad King Productions has made a name for itself as an innovative guerilla theatre company in Salt Lake City, and its most recent production of Medea further cements that reputation.
Entering the space, the audience is greeted by a simple black set, with a few platforms, staircases, and acting blocks to add levels. A few mirrors rest in various places throughout the set, and three tall white fabric cylinders suggest ancient Greece.
Within the first few moments of the performance, I thought, “Oh, we’re doing theatre.” Which is my favorite kind of theatre. Director Dallyn Steenerson manages to pay homage to the ancient Greek traditions of theatre with masks, dance/movement, and the utilization of the chorus. But there’s something timeless about the production as well–the costumes (also designed by Steenerson) have some of the shapes and fabrics of togas, but I didn’t feel like I was dropped directly into Ancient Greece, circa 50 CE. Makeup by Bailey Derrick adds to the sense of being outside of time, with inky black stains across faces and hands.
The stand out performance of the show is undoubtedly Mary Alley as Medea. Alley is an incredibly powerful presence onstage, commanding attention as she careens toward her final act of revenge. Alley radiates Medea’s grief with the same intensity as her anger. We are horrified by her actions, but we see the sorrow that lies beneath them.
It’s difficult to highlight additional performances, since the show is otherwise such a strong ensemble show. Both Kajsa Nelson and Torin Scoffield-Morales demonstrate an especial mastery of the language of the play. But every actor truly shines in their roles. Mad King Productions was founded with both a sense of fun and a sense of belonging, and both of those things are so beautifully evident in Medea. The “fun” part is a little more hidden in an intense tragedy like this one, but it’s clear that each actor enjoys what they’re doing onstage. And when it comes to belonging, actors of all shapes and sizes and ages and genders and races and abilities are given a home on Mad King’s stage. That diversity doesn’t draw attention to itself. It’s simply present. It simply reflects the humanity of the world we live in–all of us.
The production also does an excellent job of breaking up the emotional intensity of Medea’s scenes. Greek tragedy can feel a little…well, overly tragic to us modern audiences. We need the moments of bacchanalia to keep the tragedy from getting too heavy.
When it comes to the rest of the theatricality of the show, every element serves the story perfectly. Otherworldly music and sound effects highlight moments of magic, and lighting design by Mac McRae heighten the sense of Medea’s power. I also commend director Steenerson for using exactly the right amount of spectacle. Those moments are thrilling for me as an audience member, but none of them distract from the story.
Sitting in the theatre, I kept drawing a parallel between the characters of Medea and Lady Macbeth–both are women of ambition and power, both call upon the supernatural to help them accomplish their darkest deeds, and both women are driven mad by the violence they do and experience. But the horror we’re meant to feel at Medea isn’t just a response to the violence. Medea is a woman who defies her sex, who acts against the “sacredness” of her motherhood. And she does so by embracing violence–the same violence that the men in the story are celebrated for. There’s a wonderfully twisted rebellion to her that draws us in, even as she frightens us. It’s the kind of frightened that feels good.
With a run time of just about one hour, Mad King’s production of Medea is the perfect way to welcome in the Halloween season. The script may be close to 2,000 years old, but it speaks just as loudly now as it did then.
Mad King Productions presents Medea by Seneca the Younger.
Fellowship Theatre, 400 W 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Located at The Gateway, 2nd story, east of the movie theatre, between The Bruce and Tucano’s
September 18 – 27, 2025
Thursdays – Saturdays 7:00 PM
Matinee September 21 3:00 PM
$20 General Admission
Content advisory: This production is not intended for children under 12 and does include depictions of graphic violence.
0 Comments