It easy is to choose to do an “ancient” play just because of the author or prestige without really understanding the contest. None of that is true about John DeBenedetto decision to direct Euripides’ Alcestis. DeBenedetto recognized that this 2500-year-old work is, in many ways, as fresh today as when it was written.

The story of a King blessed by Zeus and served by Apollo with a wife willing to sacrifice her own life to save her husband is not as hard to believe as it should perhaps be. A play that celebrates loyalty and devotion may be a little unrealistic, but, since it moves consistently throughout the entire show, it has much of what audiences say they are looking for.

DeBenedetto has put together a fine cast led by the talented Sam Hardy who is very comfortable in the role King Admetus and is believable as a loving man even while being incredibly selfish and self-absorbed. Paul Maurizio does a fine job providing the narration in his role as Citizen and Octavious Lahiri Vourvoulias’s Heracles proves the loyal and powerful friend that we all wish we had to rely on.

When Lucas Connor first appeared as Apollo he displayed a bit of discomfort, but as “first servant” he did a fine job. Maybe he needs to learn to vamp a little more when playing a self-centered “sex object”. Richard Fisher as Pheres, Cameron Park-Miler as Alcestia and Matin Riofrio as Thanos all provided capable performances in smaller supporting roles.

DeBenedetto provided a solid hand in his work as director. He made sure to use the whole stage and maintain a lack of balance in this tale of life and death. Something often not seen in much better financed productions. We might wish he would have taken a little license with the script and exposed Admetus as the rather self-centered and cowardly individual he is. That little bit of modernization may have made the play resonate more with a modern audience. But that is being perhaps too picky given the fine work on display in this worthy production of a classic.