Medea’s Got Some Issues
Run time: 60 minutes
Cast: one-person show
Genre: comedy
Production History: This show is adapted for every actress, venue and city where the play is performed. The original show, in Spanish, “Medea Vindicada” opened in Madrid in 2010, starring Debora Izaguirre. This production traveled to several locations in Spain, and had three different runs in Madrid. The show also traveled to several cities in Argentina, as part of the Mercosur Festival.
The first English production of the show, starring Ana Asensio opened in New York City in 2011, and it went on to win “Best International Show” at United Solo Festival, Off Broadway. Her production of this show traveled also to Estonia (Monomaffia Festival) and Chicago (Teatro Luna and Instituto Cervantes).
The second English version of this show was produced by No Rules Theatre in Washington DC, starring Lisa Hodsoll as part of the Capital Fringe Festival 2014.
In 2016, Lisa Hodsoll reprised the role of Medea in a Chicago production directed by the playwright.
Plot: The tragedy of Medea reinvented as a laugh-out-laugh farce? More than 2,400 years after the premiere of her play, Medea, in person, presents, without inhibitions, the mitigating and sordid factors surrounding her infamous case: from the sexual haste of her husband, Jason, to the misogynistic and xenophobic environment of classical Corinth. “Don’t you laugh, this shit is serious.” The play is both a madcap parody and a tribute to Euripidesʼ classic tragedy.
“Seeing “Medea’s Got Some Issues” is a little like going to brunch with your craziest friend (…) Despite how horrifying some of her justifications are, there is a centrifugal force to each word. She is gushing in a manner that compels you to keep watching and keep laughing. …clever and devastatingly funny.”
– Rachel Kurzius, The Washington City Paper
“Williams, who wrote the award winning “Tables and Beds,” as well as “Smartphones: A Pocket-Sized Farce,” has constructed a witty, confrontational show giving us a contemporary look into the psyche of Euripides’ Medea.”
– Paul Kubicki, Stage and Cinema
“If I had to name the funniest thing I’ve seen so far this year, I would have to list Ana Asensio performing Emilio Williams’ one-woman show, “Medea’s Got Some Issues” as one of the strongest contenders. A Spanish riff on the Greek classic performed in English (got that?), Asensio’s accent is thick as hot chocolate in Madrid and her comedic timing is spot on. Penelope Cruz should watch her back.”
– Amy Lee Pearsall, nytheatre.com
“A Killer comedy from a Spanish playwright (…) Witty (…) Hilarious”
– Celia Wren, The Washington Post
“Medea and Emilio Williams have a lot to say, and, in this tour de force performance by Lisa Hodsoll they make their points with brutal honesty and scathing humor.”
– Kerstin Broockmann, Chicago Stage Standard
