LOS ANGELES, CA.- In 421 B.C., the twenty-seven-year-old playwright Aristophanes launched a ribald and scathing theatrical assault on the entrenched military-industrial complex of Athens. On Mount Olympus, the ogre War has imprisoned the goddess Peace and holds sway over all of Greece; meanwhile, on Earth below, three rustic patriots hatch a plot to saddle their faithful dung beetle and fly to the heavens, to engineer the goddess’s rescue and restore Peace to the land.

See the comic heroes of Culture Clash and Director Bill Rauch honor the revolutionary spirit of Aristophanes in a free adaptation of his zany, utopian escapade. Appearing alongside Culture Clash in “Peace” are two luminaries of the Los Angeles’ independent theater scene, John Fleck and Amy Hill.

Culture Clash is the nation’s most prominent Chicano-Latino performance troupe. Celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, writer-actors Richard Montoya, Ric Salinas, and Herbert Siquenza have imitated the workings of social anthropologists, digging deep into America’s racial psyche to formulate their outrageous brand of satire. “Peace” is their second dramatic encounter with Aristophanes at the Getty Villa. Collaborating with the members of Culture Clash on this Getty-commissioned adaptation is playwright and dramaturge John Glore.

Audiences should be prepared for scathing satire, abundant profanity, and ribald humor not suitable for children.

Performance Schedule
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, September 10–October 3, 2009.
All performances begin at 8 p.m. at the Barbara and Lawrence Fleischman Theater at the Getty Villa