‘Bound’ for Success at ART: Serj Tankian Creates Music for Updated Greek Tragedy

Steven Sater, Tony award-winner for Broadway’s “Spring Awakening,” wrote the script and lyrics to “Prometheus Bound,” based on the Greek tragedy by Aeschylus 2,500 years ago. Serj Tankian, the composer, is lead singer of Grammy-award winning System of a Down as well as a successful solo artist, is well-known in the rock world but for Armenians, he’s also remembered for the documentary “Screamers,” about him and System and their work toward getting the word out about the Genocide.

In “Prometheus Bound,” Tankian takes listeners on a bold musical journey; there are 19 diverse musical pieces, many written with two or more styles ranging from rock to blues to folk and ethno- world. The musical score works well and accompanies the drama in an effective manner. A six-piece band performs live on stage and musicians play an array of instruments including a viper, flugelhorn, sitar and bass guitars.

Though the music often seemed loud, the acoustics in the theatre were fine and each actor’s words resounded, the music was often enjoyable with some catchy beats; and you could clearly hear the lyrics (haunting), which should be expected in a musical. For those with sensitivity to loud music, however, this production may be ill-suited but wearing the earplugs provided by the theater could provide some comfort, as it did for me.

“Prometheus Bound” is being produced in conjunction with the Prometheus Project, Amnesty International and local Boston activists. With injustices in mind as reflected in this musical, a different political prisoner’s case will be brought to the attention of the audience each week. At the end of a show and after bows by the actors, one actor asks for the audiences’ attention and briefly describes that week’s designated political prisoner and what the audience members can do to peacefully show their support ñ whether it’s signing a letter of concern or sharing the prisoner’s plight with others concerned about human rights. Last week, at the end of the performance, the focus was on Jafar Panahi, an Iranian filmmaker who has been sentenced to six years in prison in Iran. The charges against him included propaganda against the state for making a film deemed to be against the government, and for his alleged involvement in inciting the protests following last year’s presidential election.

After the show and as we reflect in Harvard Square, I can’t help but think of this former hippie hangout of the 1960s, the musical “Hair” and the politics, alternative lifestyles, philosophies, and causes so prevalent then (and many still so today). Will “Prometheus Bound” — with its eclectic, traditional yet contemporary focus — be this decade’s poster child?

“Prometheus Bound” is playing at the Oberon until April. For more information or tickets, contact the ART.