Shakespeare By The Sea Festival

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Director’s Notes

"Like or find fault; do as your pleasures are;
Now good or bad, 'tis but the chance of war"
(Troilus and Cressida, Prologue, 30- 31)

Troilus and Cressida has often been called a problem play. No death for the hero, which would indicate a tragedy, and no marriage for the two young lovers, which would reveal it as a traditional comedy.

Instead, the play ends with the death of Hector, a great Trojan warrior, and the betrayal of Troilus’ love for Cressida, when she leaves him for another man in the Greek encampment. In Shakespeare’s time, it is doubtful that Troilus and Cressida was ever performed.

However, flash forward to the twentieth and twenty-first century, and Troilus and Cressida has hardly left the stage.

I saw a production myself about 10 years ago and marveled at the excitement and modern relevance of the story.

And how easily it fits into the dilemmas of the world of the 21st century; two countries at war for 7 years with philosophical ideals that are lost to bravado and battle fatigue.

Heroes who are no longer willing to fight. Soldiers with violent streaks and alternate agendas. False love.

These are the themes I explored in directing Troilus and Cressida for the 2010 Shakespeare By The Sea Festival, and I hope you enjoy the results!

-Nicole Rousseau

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Synopsis

Troilus and Cressida begins with the Trojan War in its seventh year, following the Trojan prince Paris' abduction of Helen, from her Greek husband Menelaus.

The Trojans  are beginning to ask themselves if this war for Helen is worth fighting anymore.

The young Trojan Troilus, however, is much distracted from these military concerns by his love for Cressida.

The Greeks besieging Troy are also bickering amongst themselves.

The apathy of Achilles toward the war is seen as damaging to the army's morale.

Ulysses tries to entice Achilles back to the field by arousing his jealously against Ajax, a rival warrior, whom he acclaims as their new hero and elects to meet Hector, the Trojan champion, in single combat.

In the midst of this, Calchas deserts Troy for the Greek encampment.

He proposes a simple barter; in exchange for telling what he knows of the Trojan forces, the Greeks will exchange a Trojan prisoner for his daughter, Cressida.

The Greek army agrees, and Cressida is soon parted from Troilus.

In the Greek camp she meets Diomedes, a young and ambitious commander in the Greek forces.

A heartbroken Troilus sees Cressida give Diomedes a token of good luck, and vows to kill Diomedes in battle.

Troilus seeks him on the field the next day, joining his brother Hector in the fight.

When Hector slays Patroclus, it arouses the wrath of Achilles at last.

Achilles encounters Hector, and—in all contempt of honour slays the warrior as he is unarmed and resting. 

With the fall of Troy certain, Troilus, disillusioned as a lover, assumes Hector's role as the Trojan champion and vows revenge on Achilles.