Classic 'Iliad' brought back to life

By Lacey Schauwecker

Reading for class often affects students by challenging their beliefs, instigating new thoughts or simply imparting them with useful information.

However, sometimes it yields an even greater response, such as the creation of a full-on stage production.

"While translating the 'Iliad' with Father McCarthy my junior year, I really came across its beauty," said senior Joel Castro. "After I spent about four hours trying to translate 10 lines from the Hector and Andromache sequence, I thought, this is really something that should be sung: the emotion and humanity in those passages had to go beyond words."

The production, which is part of Castro's classical studies thesis project, combines elements from each of his three majors: classical studies, music and theater.

"It's acting and music, which puts it on the fine line between opera and musical theater. I am calling it a musical drama to appease these sides," said Castro.

Castro, who has composed the musical drama under the advising of Santa Clara professors Pamela Quist and John Heath, feels his knowledge in multiple fields has contributed to the piece's originality.

With the aid of friends from various concentrations, including the director Katherine Pelensky and fight choreographer Michael Daw, Castro has made "The Iliad" a piece that he feels really works.

"I have been able to combine all I've learned and just cross-reference everything," said Castro.

Aside from Daw, a recent Santa Clara alumnus, "The Iliad" is completely student created.

Castro has composed five musical pieces to the classic's key scenes, which will be performed by a cast of six student actors.

"The instrumentalists -- the oboe and the harpist -- will always be on stage, and then there will be a narrator filling in the storyline gaps between the performed crucial scenes," said Castro.

One of the scenes featured is the ransom of Hector when Achilles gives Hector's body back to Priam after having dragged it around Patroclus' tomb for 12 days.

"The ransoming of Hector is one of the most crucial scenes in the whole 'Iliad,' " said Castro. "I consider it to be the heart of the story because Achilles and Priam actually come to each other on mutual grounds and, though they are enemies, they come to a temporary peace."

Aside from this scene, Castro aims to bring out the conflict between Achilles and Hector.

"Achilles represents 'arete,' an all-around excellence, and Hector represents 'oikos,' which more or less means family -- that which is most sacred."

Because Achilles kills Hector and then publicly dishonors his body, his actions represent a violation of "oikos."

"It's to remind people what happens in war: 'oikos' is violated, that which needs to be saved. It's about conflict and needless conflict," said Castro.

Though Castro's musical drama contains much conflict, the production process has proceeded relatively smoothly.

"We did have to push back the date due to some difficulties," said Castro.

Though he expects "The Iliad" to be well-rehearsed by its rescheduled date, Castro acknowledges that it will not be perfect.

"I understand it's a student production, and it will be subject to criticisms -- both good and bad -- but that's part of the process. This performance is not totally set in stone, so we hope to get feedback from the audience to learn what works and what doesn't and to move forward with it."

However, he also stated that "students should come for not only the music, but the story and how it's presented."

In a society where a lot of the classical studies are being left behind, Castro has created an opportunity for students to partake in and become educated on the traditions of old Greek myth and storytelling.

"In storytelling, you take the story and present your own interpretation of it. The goal of my production is to reintroduce characters of the 'Iliad' and try to reintroduce them as close as I can to the original text."

Given Castro's apparent respect for the "Iliad" and his skill in multiple crafts, including translation and interpretation of the classics, musical composition and theatre, one can rightfully expect his upcoming musical drama to be an impressive production.

The performance will be in Mayer Recital Hall at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 9.

Contact Lacey Schauwecker at (408) 554-1918 or lschauwecker@scu.edu.