Electra Brief

By Claire De Roin–

Morningside students put on a rendition of Electra by Sophocles that ran from the 17-20th of November.

The audience sat on the edge of their seats as Athena Riesenberg delivered her lines Saturday night in Klinger-Neal. Not a sound could be heard but her heartfelt monologue.

Electra, an adapted Greek tragedy, follows the emotional revelations of Electra, the daughter of a man murdered by his wife. Electra has sworn to avenge her father and is waiting for her exiled brother Orestes to return to aid her in her revenge.

Athena Riesenberg played the title role. “I loved playing Electra! It was the most challenging role I’ve had so far,” she says. “Electra is a discarded woman. She has been grieving her murdered father for 20 years. No matter how emotionally extreme, she is determined and strong, and I love playing strong women.”

The play had a few modern twists thrown in. Audiences were delighted at the modern-day costumes thrown in, and gasped and giggled when a character pulled out a pistol during a knife fight.

Riesenberg, a senior, will graduate in December. “Electra is my last play in college. I’ve never really cared for the term ‘bittersweet’, but I think I finally get it. I’m so grateful for the Morningside College Department of Theatre and Dance faculty members I’ve worked with over the last 4 years and the wonderful friends I’ve made in the process.”