Who is your modern counterpart in the play?
For Cressida, I have to say that there are bits and pieces I see of her in people all of the time. I think of Claire from 6 Ft. Under- her place as the youngest daughter in a family that she can’t relate to, but is so linked to. She is a defiant teenager in some ways, but she’s also far more mature than she may seem; she’s had to grow up quickly and she’s around a lot of death. That theme: being around a lot of death surely plays on Cressida, although she doesn’t outright say that it does.
In general, I think of the many women, modern and historic, that have been labeled a whore, a slut, without any consideration for their circumstance. What does it feel like to have to do something to survive vs. do it b/c you just “are” a certain way. Ahh. some food for thought folks.
So…Please share who your modern counterpart(s) are- and if you don’t know, thank about it!
Who is your modern counterpart?
Ulysses is a little tough for me – frankly, because I find him so very unlikeable, and anyone I come up with as a modern counterpart is as despicable (if not more so). We’ve already discussed Dick Cheney, and Jeffrey Skilling (from ENRON). The Far Right comes to mind, and the passion with which they preach the talking points feels similar – many of them, I remind myself, actually believe or have convinced themselves that what they are saying is the only truth.
I’m mostly coming up with the speechmakers, not the actual power brokers. Blagoyovich (sp? – he of the hair) seems to believe what he says, despite the fact that there is audio tape of his unethical dealings. Colin Powell, never mind his own real life experience and knowledge, worked hard at selling the war – right down to the illustrative visual aids he employed as “proof” (not even photos, but drawings – um, What?).
Colin Powell? I’d be interested to hear more about why he comes up as a proxy for Ulysses. Open question: Is Ulysses actually — knowingly — double-speaking?
I mentioned at the last rehearsal how I relate Nestor to an old-guard politician who is still accorded respect he doesn’t deserve … perhaps never deserved. Strom Thurmond was the model that came to mind there. But if anyone else has any other suggestions, or sees Nestor differently, do speak up!