By Colton Wolf
Athena, directed by Annie Pesch and written by Gracie Gardner, is a coming-of-age story that explores the rivalry and friendship (and perhaps more?) between two fencers — and what it means to win. The show is another marvelous entry in UTOPIA: An MTC Theater Festival, produced by Magnolia Theatre Company’s Artistic Director Gina Handy Minyard in collaboration with Dayton Playhouse, TheatreLab Dayton, and Dayton Theatre Guild.
At a fencing tournament, Athena competes against Mary Wallace, a formidable opponent. Athena asks to be Mary’s sparring partner. As they practice, their friendship grows deeper while the road to the national qualifiers gets closer.
A Striking and Rhythmic Production
The play begins with a laser-focused fencing match, the room filled with silence, anticipation, and shuffling footsteps. Then, a red flash of light and a sudden “Oh, yes!” from Athena (Payton Lutz) fills the space, indicating Athena has earned a point. Gently, lights fade up to reveal Mary Wallace (Paulina Bradley), mask off and crying, scolding Athena for celebrating. This is the real sparring match. Soon after, the two girls throw verbal attacks and parries, creating a swift rhythm. Clearly, the fencing does not stop on the piste.
Director Annie Pesch illuminates the natural rhythm of Gracie Gardner’s text and employs the lighting design of Dylan Serrano wonderfully. At the big tournament, stage left and right flash red for the opponent or green for Mary Wallace. The audience is guided only by Athena’s reactions to each flash, until they fade and Mary Wallace enters with a medal, denoting she will go to nationals. This moment, the penultimate scene in the play, is as silent as the first with tension just as thick. What has changed? This time, these girls are best friends who want the same thing.
Lutz and Bradley deserve enormous praise for their work. They hold up 75 minutes of text flawlessly and with great humor. The play is funny, precocious, and downright tearful toward the end, all thanks to their chemistry.
The Pallas-Athena Myth
Athena takes the Greek myth of Athena and Pallas and remixes it slightly. Instead of Zeus, a male figure, distracting Pallas with the aegis, the play considers what happens if Athena wants Pallas (in this case, Mary Wallace) to win. Athena understands how important this tournament is to Mary, who teaches Athena the value of mercy. Yet, when Mary Wallace faces her last opponent, she screams like Athena. She learns the meaning of victory, which she would have missed without Athena.
Final Thoughts
Athena is the second of three productions in the UTOPIA festival, which takes place in the University of Dayton’s Fitz Hall Black Box Theatre. The festival aims to engage emerging artists from the Dayton area to promote a stronger resident artist culture and provide more opportunities for equity and representation in the Dayton theatre community. Athena is produced chiefly by Magnolia Theatre Company.
In my second day at the festival, I continue to be blown away by shining performances from Dayton’s young artists. There is one remaining festival performance: Occupation, by Merri Biechler, performs Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are available online at MAGNOLIATHEATRECOMPANY.COM through the Zeffy Platform.
