Trojan War will take place this weekend

Would you fight a war over a woman? The Trojan War Will Not Take Place, under the direction of College senior Alexandra Lopez, will attempt to answer that question this weekend. Lopez translated Jean Giraudoux's original play from the French, and added a twist of her own to the events leading to the Trojan War. The play transcends time periods, taking place in both Greek mythological times and the 1930's simulatneously. The 1935 play contains universal themes which relate to any time period. Tension between two rivals, enmity between Troy and Greece, the ensuing battle over pride and the avoidance of war all occupy central places in the action. But there's more of a message behind these familiar scenarios. According to Lopez, this comedy "is interesting because the women are the ones who are fighting for there not to be a war, along with Hector." Breaking many stereotypes of the period, the women in The Trojan War Will Not Take Place are strong and articulate. Thus they create the real battle: intelligent women vs. foolish men. Hector, the leader of Troy, is played by College junior Chris Wilkes. His wife, Adromache, is played by College sophomore Joanna Goldman. The beautiful Helen is portrayed by College senior Liesel Euler. The play parallels the devastation of the second World War, but does so by touching upon the wrath of fate and the gods of ancient Greece. Lopez, in an attempt to make the characters more real, created people who are "funny, flawed, and human." Wilkes sees a lot of appeal in the characteriztion of Hector, a man who understands the horrors of war as well as the truths behind them. "It is interesting taking historical characters and bringing life into them," he said. There are drawbacks to working with historical fiction, however. "You have a drama but you already know how it's going to end, or begin," Lopez said. The question is, will the Trojans accept their fate? The Trojan War Will Not Take Place opens tonight in the Studio Theater at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased on Locust Walk and at the Annenberg Box Office.