Cripple Creek turns anti-war 'Lysistrata' into a bawdy battle of the sexes

The Cripple Creek Theatre Company presents works of dramatic importance meant to raise awareness of vital cultural, historical and political issues. Often the strongest means of getting those points across are through humor.

In “Lysistrata,” Aristophanes’ classic Greek comedy, that message is a powerful anti-war statement, focusing on the devastating results of war, not only on the combatants but also on the often unseen or overlooked victims – the women and children. That message has allowed the comedy to remain resonant over the centuries. (To say that this show has legs is an understatement. Adaptations have remained popular since its premiere nearly 2,500 years ago.)

The simplicity of its story makes it applicable to audiences of just about any nation or culture that have experienced war, from the ancient Peloponnesian Wars to current conflicts in Afghanistan or Iraq. The title character of “Lysistrata” is an Athenian woman who calls together a council of female representatives from neighboring (and warring) city-states. Sickened by continuous warfare, she proposes a simple solution. If the men refuse to lay down their arms, the women will refuse to lay down with them. No peace, no sex.

The result is a bawdy romp. With its current staging, however, the Cripple Creek players lose control of their humorous streak, altering the play’s core message and turning it into simply a comic battle of the sexes.

Director Emilie Whelan views the play more through a feminist lens emphasizing the empowerment of the women of ancient Greece over the men. That empowerment doesn’t come through any sense of equality or just rights, but through the power of the sex drive. Indeed, much of the comedy is drawn from the fact that many of the women are as lustful for their husbands as the returning soldiers are for their wives. Sex itself is the real winner in this earthy, libidinous production.

Instead of finding the pleasure and joy of the idea of making love and not war, the audience is presented with an overtly fleshy show in which the humor falls to the level of a silly British sex farce. I’m no prude but while the cartoonish ogling and drooling draw laughs, they also grow tiresome, as do the extreme indications of arousal from several of the returning soldiers. The sight gag of a huge erection works once; used repeatedly, it undercuts the message of the play. In addition, the degrees of flesh displayed are neither shocking nor titillating but generally off-putting. There are reasons that many prefer turning the lights out.

In the title role, Kerry Cahill brings a commanding presence and a depth of sincerity to her mission. Her one speech in which she describes the true victims of war is a powerful moment. Similarly, the play foretells President Eisenhower’s famous warning against the influence of the military-industrial complex, which leads to continuous warfare. But those moments are both overwhelmed by the sophomoric approach to the sexual aspects of the piece.

Production values are minimal. And while there are other moments of humorous detailing from some, most of this cast has done much better work other times.

Cripple Creek can use humor to powerful effect. I look forward to seeing the company return to doing so in the future.

What: The Cripple Creek Theatre Company presents Aristophanes’ bawdy romp about Lysistrata of Athens, who gathers a council of women to propose a radical idea to stop war: No peace? No sex. Emilie Whelan directs.
Where: The AllWays Lounge and Theatre, 2240 St. Claude Ave., 218.5778.
When: Final performances at 8 Friday through Sunday, June 3.
Tickets: $15. For information, visit the company's Web site.