Picture a world full of social decay, inlaid with corrupt people, violence, war and hedonism: a world where the most benevolent and philanthropic of people turn away in disgust at the nature of this society and perhaps the nature of humanity itself. This picture is the basis of this year’s Summer Shakes, the little-known tragedy “Timon of Athens.”
Summer Shakes, a recurring summer program at Whitman, is a student-directed, acted and produced program that brings interested Whitman students back to school two weeks before the official start of the year to rehearse a Shakespearian play. They perform the play during the first week of school in the Amphitheater.
This year, senior Ian Jagel took the reins as director of the play, focusing on understanding and interpreting the text as well as finding the essence or “kernel of truth” in the play.
“I want to direct as a career, and the slot was open so I decided to take it on,” said Jagel. “It’s a rarely performed piece, but it’s a real gem of a story, really. It asks fundamental questions about the nature of man with a frankness and honesty. A lot of Shakespeare plays approach that, but ‘Timon [of Athens]’ is quite unique in its approach.”
One of Jagel’s most surprising interpretative decisions: one that introduces a different dynamic between the characters and adds new elements to the play: involved giving Timon’s role, a masculine role, to a woman.
“I wanted to give the role of Timon to a woman because the original play is so saturated with men…making Timon a woman in a world of men adds a level of sexual tension to the play once the circumstance of the character changed,” said Jagel.
Sophomore Justis Phillips, who is taking on the role of Timon, jumped at the opportunity to play the title character.
“It has been a big learning experience for me, since I’m relatively new to Shakespeare,” said Phillips. “It is intimidating to be in such a large role, but it’s been so comfortable to learn the language and style amongst my peers. It means a lot to be supported and given this opportunity in such a casual and loving setting.”
The changing of the title character’s gender also intrigued Phillips.
“[Timon] is more vulnerable now instead of merely philanthropic. It shows her growing and living through so many different losses, financially, socially and emotionally. It adds to the drama of her demise.”
“Timon of Athens” will be performed Thursday, Sept. 3, at 5 p.m. at the Ampitheater (located between Maxey and Lyman Hall). Students are welcome to come, bring a snack and enjoy the free play.
And according to Phillips, Timon being a woman is just one of the smaller twists.
“It’s going to be really fun,” she said.
