BWW Reviews: A.C.T.'s ELEKTRA Rages Now thru November 18

But Elektra’s accusations finally hit their mark and the queen cries out that her actions brought justice for her daughter, Iphigenia, who was slain by King Agamemnon in front of her as a sacrifice to the goddess Artemis.  Should Agamemnon not pay the ultimate penalty for that?  “By what law is he supposed to die by your hands?” replies Elektra. “….because if you allow tit-for-tat murder then you will be the first do die if you ever stumble upon Justice.”

And there’s the rub.  The king killed Iphigenia.  Clytemnestra killed the king.  Orestes kills the queen.  Will someone rise up to kill him, thus perpetuating the cycle of philos-aphilos – revenge, heartache and more revenge?  Where does it end? Athenians watching this play finally chose the law over vendetta. Arguably, we have chosen the same.  Or have we?

Elektra, a Greek Tragedy
By Sophocles
Translation-adaptation by Timberlake Wertenbaker
Directed by Carey Perloff
Playing now thru Nov. 18
American Conservatory Theater
www.act-sf.org
Photo courtesy of Kevin Berne