The Concordia Theatre Department brought Euripides’s play, “The Trojan Women” to life this semester. Written in 415 B.C, the play is set in the aftermath of the Trojan War and focuses on the fates of the women of Troy, particularly Queen Hecuba, played by Isabella Mangahis, her daughter Cassandra, played by Camille Beeson, and her daughter-in-law Andromache, played by Ashley Kosonen, as they are taken captive by the Greeks. 

The play is a powerful commentary on the horrors of war, especially from the perspective of women who suffer as a result of violence and conflict. 

Professor Lori Siekmann has been teaching and directing shows at Concordia for 20 years and specifically chosethis play because she felt that its themes spoke to today. “When I picked it, I was thinking mostly of the war in Ukraine, but after I chose, the war broke out between Israel and Palestine… Whatever anyone's thoughts are about any of these issues politically, I just kept seeing the striking images of Ukrainian refugees fleeing their homes, or thought of the hostages being held, or the people in Gaza just suffering.” 

The pain and suffering caused in war does not only affect the soldiers. Innocent lives get caught in the crossfire. Audience member, Eliana Clerie, sophomore majoring in Psychology, said that this play “really highlights the families and how they are affected by war” and reflects heavily on our society today because “there’s a lot of political war going on … and there’s a lot more turmoil when it comes to that, which doesn't need to happen.”

Audience member, Sarah Howard, senior majoring in History and Political Thought said the play, “does a really good job at showing you what actually happens after the war is over. It's not like everything goes back to normal. There's actual consequences, actual problems that are caused and need to be thought about.” 

Scenic Designer and Technical Director, Andrew Sierszyn, noted that it is important not to shy away from topics such as war and suffering. Especially in theater because “theater can bring it to life in a way that is in a safe and responsible environment.” 

The play ends on a deeply tragic note. Siekmann said, “It's not a play that makes you feel good. It's a play that really kind of just churns up your insides and it makes you really think about things.” Siekmann hopes that people also talk, “about the role of the gods in the play, it's very nihilistic… Whereas, isn't it great to have a God who is real and who is all powerful…. and who has solved our ultimate problem of salvation?” 

Camille Beeson, a junior double major in Theater and English, brought to life the role of Cassandra. Beeson said the play is a great “reminder that if we put our faith in the things of this world, they will fail us.” For example, when the women in the play call out ‘Zeus!’, he does not answer. Beeson feels that it is “important to remember that the things of this world will always fail, but when we put our hope and things above like, God. God is the only thing that will not fail.”

“The Trojan Women” vividly depicts the horrors of war and serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences war has on innocent lives that are not directly involved in the conflicts. But it is important to explore these topics and theater is a wonderful avenue to do so. Sierszyn said, “Theater shows life. Life is sin and especially in a show like this where sin is shown full tilt with lore. It's just very prominent and leads to deep questions and hopefully deep answers.”

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