Word: pentheus
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...mythic Bacchae in praise of their priapic god, Dionysus. Each principal singer takes two roles. Mom (Suzanne Costallos) falls under the Pelvis' spell, just as her ancient Greek counterpart, Agave, is seduced by Dionysus. When Sonny (Christopher Durham) attempts to intervene, he is, in his alter ego of Pentheus, torn apart by the horde of crazed women...
...first step is to transform the impious into raving maniacs. The Theban women have already become blood-thirsty maenads at the start of the play; Pentheus (John Claflin), the proud young king of Thebes, is gradually given a taste for women's clothing as well as for self-destruction...
Only Lisa Lindley, as Pentheus' mother Agave, conveys a compelling sense of this worldgone-bad. As leader of the maenads, she is a portrait of frenzy. Blood-splattered and hysterical with glee from killing a wild animal with her bare hands, Lindley's Agave touches upon the horror of Euripide's play...
...self-righteous Pentheus denies that Dionysus is the son of Zeus and vows to wipe out his followers in Thebes. Dionysus appears incognito, and a chorus of Asian-women converts hymn the beatific peace of serving the god of joy. Pentheus claps Dionysus in irons. The god miraculously escapes. Despite the politic advice of his sage grandfather Cadmus (Philip Bosco), the blind seer Tiresias (Tom Klunis) and Dionysus' chillingly prophetic warnings, Pentheus speeds to his appointed doom...
Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad. Spying in women's garb at the forest rites of the maenads, Pentheus is beheaded by his own mother Agave (Irene Papas), who, crazed by Dionysus, takes her son for a lion...