Children Of Troy

by Cassandra Rose

Siblings Izzy Edelmar and Paul Sterling live in a family steeped in history. Even Izzy's ten-year-old son, Derek, can see the correlation between how Izzy and Paul look at each other and what befell the last of King Priam's children. Izzy's husband might not have as keen an eye as Derek, but he knows enough to want teenaged Paul gone. In this modern take on the Greek tragedy, Izzy must confront her past or be...

Siblings Izzy Edelmar and Paul Sterling live in a family steeped in history. Even Izzy's ten-year-old son, Derek, can see the correlation between how Izzy and Paul look at each other and what befell the last of King Priam's children. Izzy's husband might not have as keen an eye as Derek, but he knows enough to want teenaged Paul gone. In this modern take on the Greek tragedy, Izzy must confront her past or be doomed to repeat it

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Children Of Troy

Recommended by

  • Nick Malakhow: Children Of Troy

    A potent, contemporary tragedy that ends in a way that looks forward and actively fights against those classic tragic tropes/assumptions that cycles of abuse and trauma can't be broken. The characters are vividly rendered in their naturalism, and yet the play takes on a mythical/heightened quality with its grand themes and events and the unity of space. Loved the visual metaphor inherent in/embedded in the set of this house and the idea of escape via the roof. All of the characters are complicated, and I found Izzy especially nuanced--at once troubling and easy to sympathize with.

    A potent, contemporary tragedy that ends in a way that looks forward and actively fights against those classic tragic tropes/assumptions that cycles of abuse and trauma can't be broken. The characters are vividly rendered in their naturalism, and yet the play takes on a mythical/heightened quality with its grand themes and events and the unity of space. Loved the visual metaphor inherent in/embedded in the set of this house and the idea of escape via the roof. All of the characters are complicated, and I found Izzy especially nuanced--at once troubling and easy to sympathize with.

  • Cheryl Bear: Children Of Troy

    A moving and complex story of abuse and trauma that goes to the depths. Moving and well done.

    A moving and complex story of abuse and trauma that goes to the depths. Moving and well done.

  • Tara Branham: Children Of Troy

    Children of Troy surprised me. It’s dark- like darkest before dawn DARK. But then like Dawn comes and you’re like damn...it’s still pretty dark right at the beginning of dawn. The play resists the urge to give us clear “victories” and clear “monsters”. And instead offers an incredibly complicated story on the cycle of abuse and how even once a cycle is broken there is still trauma left to be dealt with. What does it cost us to care for our monsters rather than run them out of town with a pitchfork? What is saved?

    Children of Troy surprised me. It’s dark- like darkest before dawn DARK. But then like Dawn comes and you’re like damn...it’s still pretty dark right at the beginning of dawn. The play resists the urge to give us clear “victories” and clear “monsters”. And instead offers an incredibly complicated story on the cycle of abuse and how even once a cycle is broken there is still trauma left to be dealt with. What does it cost us to care for our monsters rather than run them out of town with a pitchfork? What is saved?

View all 4 recommendations

Character Information

No more than half of the cast of this play should be white.
  • Derek Edelmar
    Izzy and Rex's son. Obsessed with greek mythology. Has Asperger's Syndrome (undiagnosed)
    Character Age
    10
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    he/him
  • Rex Edelmar
    Izzy's husband. King of the house. An alcoholic.
    Character Age
    38
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    he/him
  • Andrea Crain
    Paul's classmate.
    Character Age
    17-18
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    She/her
  • Harriet Sterling
    Izzy and Paul's mother. Currently serving time in prison.
    Character Age
    45
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    She/her
  • Izzy Edelmar
    Wife to Rex. Mother of Derek. Sister of Paul.
    Character Age
    27
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    She/her
  • Paul Sterling
    Izzy's brother, who's been living with her for the past ten years.
    Character Age
    16
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    he/him

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization The Ruckus Theatre, Year 2016