See a Bawdy, Tragic Comedy for Free

Reservations are required

Troilus and Cressida may not be William Shakespeare's most famous work, or be the subject of a movie starring Gwyneth Paltrow.

But it is free. And isn't that all that matters?

This Monday, the National Constitution Center and the Philadelphia Artists' Collective present a reading of the unconventional tragedy whose "tone lurches wildly between bawdy comedy and tragic gloom" at 6:30 p.m. All you have to do is call for a reservation, 215-409-6700. And NCC members who pre-register can get a seat in a special members-only section.

Did we mention that the story is not totally out of left field?

The Greek storyteller Homer told part of the tale in The Iliad, according to Cummings Study Guides. William Shakespeare filled in the rest:

The setting for the story is the long running Trojan War. Troilus, a brother of Paris, falls in love with Cressida. She loves him, too, but plays hard to get. The plot covers the heroes from Greek mythology including Ulysses, Achilles and Ajax and their plans to try to end the war. The themes cover betrayal and jealousy.

According to the NCC, the reading is adapted and directed by Adam Immerwahr, producing associate for McCarter Theatre, and features an impressive list of Philadelphia’s best actors

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