Before Jason set out with his Argonauts or James T. Kirk boldly went where no one has gone before, there was Gilgamesh, who, in the words of the Assyrian tablets, “undertakes an expedition unknown to him.”
Nate Currier has also undertaken an unknown expedition. This first-time director has chosen to bring Gilgamesh to life with a new adaptation that will open at Marin Shakespeare Company’s downtown space on Feb. 14.
Gilgamesh is a book high schoolers might read in AP English. But, to be honest, most don’t. It has a reputation for being a difficult read, so why see a show based on it? Currier’s response: “It’s the oldest story ever written down—an existential king contemplating mortality, with laughs, sex and monsters. And it’s free.”
Lead actor Eliot Hall compares Gilgamesh’s search for immortality to today’s AI revolution. “Is it better to be gods or humans?” he asks. “The rise of AI is humanity trying to become immortal. With today’s advances in technology, people will relate to the questions of what it means to be human and what our humanity’s limitations are. Also, I think it’s a cool, weird story people will want to see.”
“I was adamant about keeping the weirdness intact,” Currier says. “I have no idea why the cast is here, doing this bare-bones play with me, but they are so amazing.”
“Well, I’m a history nerd,” Hall opines.
“There are a lot of history nerds in the cast,” Currier notes with a laugh.
What is clear is their passion for this project. “We want people to come see it. It’s a universal story that people should be able to see,” Currier says.
“You don’t have to be a theater person to enjoy this show. You will not feel excluded. But theater people will also love it,” says Hall.
“And high schoolers will love it,” Currier adds.
“Plus, it’s so good,” Hall says. “My professor at DePaul used to say that for a show to be good, you needed two out of three things: a good script, a good cast, a good director. This show has all three.”
The Valentine’s Day opening seems apt for this passion project. So one may eschew the overpriced dinner, take a chance and see what real passion looks like.
‘The Epic of Gilgamesh’ runs Feb. 14-Feb. 23 at Marin Shakespeare Company’s Center for Performing Arts, Education, and Social Justice at 514 4th St., San Rafael. Thurs-Sun 7:30pm. Admission is free—donations are appreciated. 415.388.5208. marinshakespeare.org.
