A slow but stunning voyage

For McCarter Theatre's 2007-08 season, Zimmerman wrote and directed "Argonautika," the tale of Jason and the Argonauts. This Princeton premiere is a polished production of a not-so-polished play. The play makes up for what it lacks in the script and acting with its beautiful set and innovative staging.

"The contemporary or immediate relevance of this story for me is the futility of war, the futility of the conquest mission," Zimmerman said of the play in an interview printed in the production's program. She also described her process as writer and director of the project: "I start with no script. I write it bit by bit in the hours off from rehearsal, bring it in and it builds every day. I'm inspired by the physical capabilities and talents in the cast." She uses a movement-based style with heightened theatricality. Zimmerman depends heavily on the improvisational skills of the actors early in the rehearsal process, which she then integrates into the final staging.

With a runtime of nearly three hours, "Argonautika" is about one hour too long. The pace of the show drags. But perhaps the biggest problem is that Zimmerman's script seems to waver indecisively between two tones. At times, the script is stoic and classical, evoking the traditional voice of the Greek myth. At other times, however, characters become oddly modern. They crack jokes using modern slang, which can only be interpreted as a strained attempt to engage the audience with relatable humor. Sometimes the lines are so meta-theatrical that the characters completely drop out of the story and the actors act as themselves. Often, the jokes fall flat - for the most part because they are so out of place within the rest of the script that the audience doesn't know how to interpret them.

Another problem with the script, which is in part due to the nature of the myths themselves, is that so many characters are introduced so rapidly that there is hardly room for any character development. As a result, all of the characters are flat, and the actors play caricatures instead of authentic human beings. While this structure is evocative of the traditional myth, it makes the story less relatable and, therefore, less powerful and effective.

The technical aspects of the show, however, are absolutely stunning. The set, designed by Daniel Ostling, is gorgeous, with wood covering the floor, the ceiling and the two side walls, creating an insulated space of an encapsulated experience. There are multiple levels and grates through which the lights shine.

But what is most remarkable about "Argonautika" is the staging. Relying on barely anything other than themselves, the actors make the gods fly, create the image of the Argonautika sailing through the sea and make animals seemingly come to life on stage. The result is a show that is magical and thrilling to watch.

The costumes, designed by Ana Kuzmanic, are also wonderful. With exaggerated curls, flowing wigs and rich materials, they add to the magical fairytale-like aspect of the production. The lighting, however, designed by John Culbert, is not as strong. While the beautiful lighting creates a palpable mood, most of the time it is too dark, and the audience has to strain to see the actors.

The fantastical nature of magical interactions, like Medea struck by Eros' arrow, is incredible. Zimmerman described the idea in the program: "One of my earliest images for the production was of a girl with an arrow struck through her - once she's shot, that she would have this arrow stuck in her. ... I imagined we would see her white dress get bloodier and bloodier from that very painful love. The depiction of love or lust in this show is dark, destructive."

Despite this sensory beauty in the production, "Argonautika" still has one major problem: the script. It is a wonderful story, but the play clearly still needs to be edited. The production, though, is a visual treat. With a gorgeous set and wildly imaginative staging, Zimmerman's production of "Argonautika" makes you believe that gods really can fly and that heroes can do the impossible.

"Argonautika"By Mary Zimmerman