05/20/2026
When the Stranger Comes character focus: The Bacchae
Several people have recently asked me if When The Stranger Comes is sinply The Bacchae, or a completely new drama. The answer to that inquiry is that the play is a little bit of both.
When I decided to tackle the project, I always knew I wanted to honor the Euripidean tragedy. However, I would not limit myself to a simple mere retelling of the drama. Thus, certain fundamental changes, omissions and additions have been made to the overall plot, dramatic action and characters.
While remaining true to the structure of the greek tragedy, I have added additional episodes and Stasimon sequences, expanding the drama into two acts. I have also made specific changes that affect the thematic focus of the drama. An example of this is the Parados. In The Bacchae, this opening sequence is when Dionysus reveals himself to the audience, setting up the dramatic action of the play. In When The Stranger Comes, the god's speech is omitted entirely, he makes no appearance, and the Parados becomes the first structured ritual sequence of the production: The Rite of Desecration, orchestrated by Pentheus.
Another notable change [among many] directly relates to the Bacchae, aka the cult of Dionysus, in Euripdes' tragedy, the cult is solely made up of women, both followers of the god, as well as those he has seduced and possessed. This fact is made clear in the Parados, as explained by Dionysus; paving the way for the play to heavily explore gender roles and gender politics.
Taking into consideration both historical and modern references, i have made the decision that the Bacchae be composed of both women and men. This choice shifts the representation of the cult away from gender and ancient political crises in Thebes, and becomes a hallucinatory myth about the human psyche.
Euripdes' The Bacchae is notable for being one of the earliest [in fact the earliest recorded] Greek Tragedies in which the "chorus", in its case the Bacchae, don't only serve as a liaison between audience and drama, but plays a part in the dramatic action of the play. In When The Stranger Comes, i have expanded upon this concept. The Dionysian cult are as much individual characters as they are a collective. Thus, while their are moments in which they speak in unison (in both English and Greek), there are many moments in which an individual cult member voices his or her own dialogue, again illustrating their individual character traits.
Perhaps most striking, the Bacchae in When The Stranger Comes have their own dramatic arc through the manuscript; one that, in fact, differs greatly from the classic Greek tragedy. The cult of Dionysus has a profound effect not only on the characters within the play, but also on the themes and forward momentum of the play itself.
If you are interested in auditioning to be a member of the Bacchae in When The Stranger Comes, reach out to the lab or directo Justin John Costello r, and a preliminary audition packet will be sent to you. Not only are the roles challenging, but they are paramount and memorable ones in a production that returns Intrepudus to its roots in ways witnesses will never forget.
So take a chance. Join the dance.
Peace.
-JJMC
