“Sometimes we are devils to ourselves.” (Troilus, Act 3, Scene 2)
Throughout our work on this show, I have been fascinated with the concept of the duality that exists in human nature. I believe that inside every human being there lies the potential to be heroic. But, as Shakespeare demonstrates so well in this play, every hero also has the potential to succumb to the lesser side of their human nature. Whether it be pride, lust, vanity, or a myriad of other potential vices, we always have to be careful to not let that side of us overtake our heroic side.
“I have a kind of self resides with you, but an unkind self that itself will leave to be another’s fool.” (Cressida, Act 4, Scene 4)
In this story, we set up a world full of heroes. The tragedy lies in their squandered potential to make a positive impact on the world. As the story progresses, we watch them eventually surrender to their more human and base qualities. These are people that could have changed the world for the better…but Shakespeare chose to show us the moments in which they didn’t.
As a teacher of the youth of Utah, it is incredibly poignant to see the parallels between the lives our youth lead, and the lives these mythological heroes lead. I see so many potential heroes every day in my classrooms and rehearsals...and they are struggling. Struggling to find that heroic side of them amidst the duality of their human nature. I hope this show provides the cautionary tale needed to show what can happen to our lives and the lives around us when we let our vices overtake our heroism.
Unlike our previous productions this year, this show does not give us examples of amazing human beings who affect the world around them for the better. This production gives us a group of people who had every quality needed to do so, but did not. And therein lies the tragedy. What would their society have been like if Paris did not give in to his lustful side? Or Achilles to his pride? Or Hector to his greed? Or Troilus to his tendency for dramatics?
Utah’s first governor Brigham Young summed up our purpose this evening quite well when he said “Upon the stage of a theater can be represented in character, evil and its consequences, good and its happy results and rewards; the weakness and the follies of man, the magnamity of virtue and the greatness of truth. The stage can be made to aid the pulpit in impressing upon the minds of a community an enlightened sense of a virtuous life, also a proper horror of the enormity of sin and a just dread of its consequences. The path of sin with its thorns and pitfalls, its gins and snares can be revealed, and how to shun it.”
This is our purpose this evening as we present to you the duality of these iconic and potentially heroic characters. Thank you for supporting the performing arts at Hillcrest.
---Joshua Long
