Natural Theatricals is the theatre company in residence at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, VA and a wonderful residence it is. This setting is perfect for the classical Greek productions that are it’s mission. Herakles is based on Archibald MacLeish’s verse-play. The play is an artistic statement on the 60’s cold war and it’s effects on the social fabric of society. A Nobel Prize winning scientist sets out on an Athenian holiday with his wife and daughter to soak in the history and culture that has always intrigued him. The first act is dominated by rage, anger and frustration during a highly emotional fight with the scientist and his seemingly equally frustrated wife. After a major set change, we enter the second act, which depicts a group tour of some of Athens’s ruins. The family happens upon Herakles searching for redemption of past debacles. He arrives to visit the oracle and finds his wife waiting for him. What ensues is a social commentary on where we came from and where we are headed.
