An Iliad is more than a story; it is an adventure in theatrical terms. This fifth exposure for me to this play must be my last one, for no one can do it better. Ever.
—J. Peter Bergman, The Berkshire Edge
A battle between two superheroes! Featured in an eighth-century B.C. epic poem (Homer’s The Iliad), Achilles, a demi-god, was the most powerful warrior in Ancient Greece, and his nemesis, Hector, was the greatest warrior in Troy. Actor MaConnia Chesser, playing the Poet, brings their story to life, like the traveling bards of yesteryear, in a dazzling solo performance at this intimate theatre. —Barbara Waldinger, Berkshire on Stage
Ancram Opera House Theater’s 2021 season made possible through a grant from the NY State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). AN ILIAD has also been made possible through additional support from a NYSCA Restart NY: Rapid Live Performance Grant.
AN ILIAD is a modern-day retelling of Homer’s classic. With poetry and humor, the ancient tale of the Trojan War and the contemporary world collide in this explosive theatrical experience. As the show’s sole performer / storyteller, MaConnia Chesser embodies the epic's familiar characters--from foes Achilles and Hector to the lovers Paris and Helen. Here, MaConnia takes a pause during rehearsal to answer a few of our questions:
AOH: When we approached you about doing An Iliad, you got pretty excited. Why did you want to take on this role?
MC: At first, it was because I remembered how blown away I was when I saw Denis O’Hare perform the role back in 2012. Even then, I thought, “Wow, I would love to play that part someday.” To completely embody the role of the Poet takes all the tools of an actor: authentic engagement with the audience, tremendous stamina in voice and body, deep empathy, the capacity to connect to our full emotional range, impeccable comedic timing and wit. So, I was beyond excited at the opportunity to tackle such a beast of a role!
AOH: You could be living and working pretty much wherever you want, including NYC, but have landed here in the Berkshires. How do you find being a working professional actor living in this region?
MC: The life I have in the Berkshires suits me well. I sort of manifested it, and I’m incredibly grateful for it. I lived in NYC for a bit and in Washington DC for several years. And during those times, I began to feel like I really needed an artistic home. A place where I would have the opportunity to play a range of roles and have my full humanity be seen and appreciated and not just be consigned to limited roles because of my gender and ethnicity. I have that artistic home at Shakespeare & Company. But what I didn’t anticipate were the relationships I would build with other local theaters and the opportunities I would find there. I have actually had to turn down work, which is crazy!
AOH: Are there characters in An Iliad you connect to more than others? Do you have a favorite character you portray?
MC: Honestly, I’m still figuring that out as we work through the play and as I find what excites me about each character and how they think and express themselves. But there is something about the Priam character (seen after losing his son, Hector) that just breaks my heart. His grief is so palpable. I don’t have any children, so I really have to work to embody the deep intensity of a parent’s love for their children. I think of my mom, who sacrificed and worked hard every day to make sure my siblings and I had everything we needed and then some. Her love is so fierce that sometimes I think that she would die for any of us, without hesitation. So, maybe that’s why I’m drawn to Priam because he reminds me of my mom. I just hope I can honor the strength of both of them in this production.
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This is MaConnia Chesser's third project with Ancram Opera House, having performed virtually in the Crystal Radio Sessions twice in 2020. NEW YORK THEATRE: Ensemble Studio Theatre, York Shakespeare Company. REGIONAL THEATRE: Shakespeare & Company (company member), Actors’ Shakespeare Project, WAM Theatre, Berkshire Playwrights Lab, Chester Theatre, Kennedy Center, NJ Rep (company member), Theater Alliance (Insurrection: Holding History, Helen Hayes nomination), Tennessee Shakespeare, African Continuum Theatre, Totem Pole Playhouse, & Folger Theatre. FILM/TV: The Shape of Destiny (Official selection, 2018 Women in Comedy Festival), Nothing But the Truth, Ghosts of Hamilton Street, Diseasels, HBO’s The Wire. EDUCATION: Shakespeare & Company, National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, Alcorn State University.