Marblehead Little Theatre "Medea": Dark, Riveting, and Unforgettable

“Women wronged in love harbor thoughts of blood” - Chorus (Medea)

Marblehead Little Theatre (MLT) presents “Medea,” a Greek play by Euripides. Enraged that her husband, Jason, cheated on her, Medea, a former princess, brews an inhumanly vile revenge. 

I felt the entire auditorium take a breath when “Medea” concluded. Marblehead Little Theatre’s production is a well-acted, dark, and riveting show. It’s a haunting exploration of betrayal, revenge, and devastating consequences.

MLT’s production features a talented cast who go to immense levels of intense emotion. The acting is the highlight. Everyone crafted their characters and manifested powerful moments of anger, grief, and desperation. The cast works especially well together, creating tension and keeping audiences fully invested in this heartbreaking story. 

Jacqueline Kelley Coughlin plays Medea, a complicated character whose blinded rage leads to a horrifying decision. Coughlin’s gripping and intense performance embodies her character’s anger and desperation. Coughlin handles the character’s darkest moments with conviction, allowing audiences to see both Medea’s fury and pain beneath it. 

As soon as Jason appeared onstage, I immediately turned my nose up at his unfaithfulness. My opinion of him changed when witnessing his harrowing wails in the climax. Kudos to Joshua LaPierre for depicting the show’s most difficult emotional scene. It's painful. I like how LaPierre explored this character. Jason was disloyal, but he is still human.  

The supporting cast adds depth to the production. Amanda Burke plays the nurse and a messenger. Burke is a good speaker, delivering well-rehearsed monologues. Brion Dion is commanding as Creon, a ruler who is wary of Medea’s decisions. 

Armani Marquez-Chaves brings warmth and attentiveness to the Tutor, while Conor Burke provides a welcoming contrast to the dark emotions surrounding Medea. 

In true Greek fashion, “Medea” has a Greek chorus of four women. Rebecca Axelrod, Nora Falk, Meghan Holtz, and Niko V. King-Mahan work exceptionally well together. The chorus has an important role, reciting their perspectives and also trying to lead Medea in the right direction.

Willa Barry, Charlotte Keaveny, Meave Kimball, and Selma McClure are among the children’s ensemble and alternate roles between shows. 

I always look forward to what MLT transforms its black box theater into next. Scenic designer Andrew Barnett uses a minimal setting, putting more focus on the actors. A small raised platform sits at its center, with dirt and sand surrounding it. 

At the far end, another small proscenium-style stage adds another effective visual layer to the action. Lighting by Greg Mancusi-Ungaro adds a fierce and ominous glow as the play’s darker layers take a turn.

For “Medea”, the audience sits on either side of the stage. Audiences are immersed in the action, drawing them directly into the play’s world. We can also feel the intense emotions, slowly backing into our seats as Medea’s darkness grows. The audience feels like witnesses rather than spectators.   

Director Jon Kinney did an immensely incredible job with the production. He worked closely with the actors and technical crew to bring this vision to the stage. Every moment remained engaging from every angle. The emotion is the most important aspect of this show, and I felt it. His direction allows the story to build naturally, gradually building tension. 

Be warned, MLT’s “Medea” is an intense show. Themes will likely trigger audiences. The play mirrors similar real-life trial cases. The final moment when Medea enters the stage brought audible gasps from the audience. 

Read about the show before attending. MLT’s “Medea” is worth seeing for its incredible performances. It leaves a lasting impact long after the lights dim. “Medea” plays at MLT this October, running until Sunday, Oct. 18.