Classics on the Fringe: Euripides to Shakespeare in the 2015 Fest

Sometimes the Fringe Fest brings the weirdest of the weird to someone’s own living room, but any theater patron in search of new takes on the classics has ample options — from The Inferno to ancient Greece to, of course, the requisite round of this year’s wooliest Shakespeare concepts.

Moving in chronological order, fans of Euripides can check out Like a Bat Out of Hades, from Ombelico Mask Ensemble. It’s based on Euripides’s Alcestis and promises the age-old question: “Will Hercules defeat Death and bring Alcestis back from the underworld?” Touting a “physical, raucous style,” the show is free and is coming to Liberty Lands Park at 926 N. American Street (“BYO seat!”) on September 3-6, and 10, 11, and 13.

If you need more ancient Greece, Hannah Van Sciver is offering what looks like an interesting interdisciplinary take on the Trojan War. Fifty Days at Iliam ($12) is “a bold new piece exploring the Trojan War as told through the paintings of Cy Twombly…an unflinching look at the role of the artist in the final days of a decade-long slaughter.” It’s coming to Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine Street, September 3-5.

Moving right along, we have “Greetings from Hell!” thanks to Found Theater Company’s City of Woes. It’s a “dark, decadent, and sinful” descent into the underworld as inspired by Dante’s Inferno. “Influenced by crime fiction and led by demons, lost souls, and fallen angels, this hybrid performance will investigate nightmarish territory.” City of Woes ($15) is coming to Vox Populi Aux Performance Space, 319 N. 11th Street, 3rd Floor, September 9-17.

Love, blindfolds, and fights

Never fear, Shakespeare fans. We’ve seen more Shakespeare in past years, but there are still at least three different takes on the Bard available in this year’s fest, even if one is a repeat from last year.

Your chance to see Revolution Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost will extend beyond the Festival. It’s the story of a gentlemen’s vow “To fast, to study, and to see no woman” (“love, clowns, and wit” ensue, of course). The free outdoor show has live original music and is coming to Hawthorne Park at 12th and Catherine Streets, September 16-27.

John Schultz’s Til Birnam Wood… , a fast-paced adaptation of Macbeth that you have to not see to believe, debuted in last year’s Festival (you can check out my ArtBlog review of the show here). The audience dons blindfolds for most of the show, and the story unwinds through the iconic text and surges of violent sound. Til Birnam Wood… ($15) is returning for four days only, with late-night shows at the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom Street, September 2-5.

Finally, for those who prefer the “killer fight scenes” to the famous speeches, Kill Will from the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre offers battle from over a dozen popular Shakespeare plays: “a sublime combination of poetic text and exciting and thrilling fight choreography with swords and daggers.” It’s, oh no, please, no, please don’t… “The Good, The Bard and The Ugly!” Kill Will ($15) is coming to 2111 Sansom Street, September 15-19.

For the full lineup of this year’s Festival, visit FringeArts online.