Paul Giamatti And NYPD Commander Star In Greek Tragedy Set In Brownsville

BROWNSVILLE, BROOKLYN — An NYPD commander, a Golden Globe-winner and a Brooklyn city councilman will perform in a modern adaptation of Euripides' “The Madness of Hercules” in Brownsville on Saturday.

Deputy Inspector Rafael Mascol, commander of the 75th precinct in East New York, Paul Giamatti and Councilman Jumaane Williams will perform “Hercules in Brooklyn” at the Van Dyke Community Center on Oct. 7, organizers announced Thursday.

The play is based on "The Madness of Hercules" by Euripides, which recounts how the mythological hero murdered his wife and children. “Hercules in Brooklyn" sets the action in modern-day New York and examines how gun violence affects neighborhood life.

This modern adaptation comes from Theater of War Productions, the same company that presented “Antigone in Ferguson” outside Brownsville’s Howard Houses in July.

Theater of War has a long history of adapting classic Greek tragedies to examine social issues in modern day life. The company is best known for a series of Philoctetes readings performed for military audiences across the United States.

Hercules In Brooklyn will be performed at the Van Dyke Community Center amphitheater at 392 Blake Ave. at 5 p.m. on Oct. 7. Tickets are free but organizers ask that attendees RSVP online.

The production will be followed with an open discussion between audience members and performers.

Photo courtesy of the NYPD/Twitter and Alberto E. Rodriguez / Staff/ Getty Images Entertainment