Janie Boschma

The low, menacing music starts to fill the theater.

Flash! A bolt of fire falls from the ceiling.

Enter Prometheus.

There is still time to see the UW-Eau Claire music and theatre arts department’s production of “Prometheus Bound” by Aeschylus. Today, Friday and Saturday, the cast will perform this Greek tragedy in the Riverside Theatre of Haas Fine Arts Center.

Set in a time when the Olympian gods were new and the elemental powers of sea, earth and sky were still tangible personalities, Prometheus is the immortal Titan honored for stealing fire from Zeus and giving it to mortals for their use.

For this, Zeus orders Prometheus to be chained on top of the Caucasus Mountains, which is where the production begins.

“The chains haven’t come loose from the mountains, so it’s been nice,” joked junior Ryan McDaniel, who plays Prometheus.

But in all seriousness, McDaniel said the play is going very well so far.

“It’s technically amazing: the sound, the lights, the set, the 21 and a half foot mountain built in Riverside,” he said.

Director Richard Nimke said the cast is doing a wonderful job.

“They really embraced the style. They’re willing to try different things to push the boundaries and the limits, because they’re all playing Greek gods or Greek mythological heroes, so it’s a different kind of production,” he said. “They’ve all really embraced the size and the scope of the characters.”

Eau Claire’s show is the first amateur production of James Kerr’s new translation of “Prometheus Bound,” Nimke said, adding that it recently played in London and New York.

And with this new translation, McDaniel said the play is much easier to follow.

“It’s not as archaic of a translation,” he said.

When sophomore Charlene Lucht, who plays Io, first heard it was Greek theater, she said she was scared.

“I was like ‘Oh God, Greek mythology. I’m going to be screwed,’ ” Lucht said with a laugh, adding that quickly changed. “With the new translation that we have, I think it really makes it more accessible. It’s really easy to follow. Even though I know that the characters are mostly gods, I feel like they are still very relatable.”

Senior Shane Chandler, who plays Hermes, agreed.

“I think we present traditional Greek theater in a very approachable way,” he said. “I think people who normally shy away from classical theater will very much enjoy our show.”

Chandler said he didn’t think learning the play was difficult because Nimke is very knowledgeable in Greek theater.

“Any question we would have about the language and where it’s coming from and what certain things … meant would pretty much be answered on the spot,” he said.

Nimke said this is a very dynamic production that’s extremely accessible to a contemporary audience.

“Prometheus stands as a symbol of sacrifice, and he stands as a symbol of defiance,” he said. “Artists and philosophers have used him as a testament to defiance, standing up against totalitarianism or standing up against absolutism.”

Junior Bethany Nelson went to the opening night and said originally she wasn’t sure if she would know what was happening, but it was definitely very easy to understand.

“At first I thought that I wasn’t going to be able to understand it, but I followed it pretty well,” she said. “I really liked it. I would recommend it just because it’s something kind of different. It’s just a cool experience.”

Sophomore Maggie “Pegs” Russell, a member of the chorus, said she’s been shocked at the turnout so far.

“I would definitely think there’s not a lot of chances to see Greek mythology plays,” she said, adding that they’re not wearing togas and talking to unreachable gods. “It’s a new translation, and it’s in a way that makes the characters and gods really human.”

Russell said as long as people enter the theater with an open mind, they’ll be fine.

“This isn’t a regular play that you would go to, and it’s not supposed to be,” she said.

From an actor’s point of view, she said, it’s difficult because there’s not a lot of audience feedback, meaning places where they can gasp or laugh.

“You never know what’s coming. It’s always a surprise. It’s so fun putting it on, I just hope that people get to come see it, because it’s something new that they wouldn’t usually get to see,” Russell said. “It’s a spectacle for your eyes. It’s so cool.”

“Prometheus Bound”
Time: 7:30 p.m.
When: Today, Friday and Saturday
Where: Riverside Theatre, Haas Fine Arts Center
Cost: $5 for students with a university ID, $8 for faculty and staff with a university ID and those 62 and older, $6 for children 17 and younger and $10 for the general public. Tickets are available at the University Service Center.