“Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years on end”
This quote, attributed to Homer, is the opening of The Odyssey. Which is not the Greek myth that this play is based on, but it captures the heart and soul of this production. The play Eurydice is the retelling of the Greek Myth of Orpheus but from the perspective of the titular Eurydice, Orpheus’ wife who dies and who he goes to rescue from the underworld.
Playwright Sarah Ruhl does a wonderful job of honoring the original myth but also uses it to explore what it means to be alive–and what death really is. The script is both modern and esoteric, a common theme throughout Ruhl’s work, but NKU does well with it. Full disclosure I am an alum of NKU’s Theatre program, and while I frequently sing its praises, I will say that I was particularly impressed with the team on this show.
The Plot
If you know the myth of Orpheus you know the basic plot of this play. Eurydice dies, and Orpheus, heartbroken, enters the underworld to save her. He manages to get permission from Hades to take her out after playing songs so beautiful and so sad they made the Stones themselves weep. The conditions of this bargain are that he cannot look back at her until they are both safely on the surface. Obviously as this is a tragedy Orpheus looks back at the last second and Eurydice returns to the Underworld.
Eurydice shows what our heroine was up to during her time among the dead. Recovering her memories, meeting and spending time with her father, and pissing off Hades and the Stones. Its a very sad and yet moving story.
Performers Breathe Life into the Show
Short Version: this cast takes on a weird, sad, and esoteric script that at times invokes an almost 1950’s “old money” aesthetic, as well as a vision of the Underworld that would make Homer proud.
Longer Version: first of all, the 3 Stones (Hailey Walls, Lily Hotkewicz, and Sierra Connor) are snarky, mocking, and bad tempered–and I loved it. They torment the Father (Joseph O’Hair), pushing him to his second death. The Father is kind and intelligent and a mix of happy and sad to see Eurydice. Happy to get to spend time with his daughter, sad that she’s dead and for a significant amount of time without her memories. O’Hair shows a wide range and a generally good take on the character. His monologues show off the character’s personality and reveal well who he was before his death.
A Nasty Interesting Man/Lord of the Underworld (Zachery Ryan Petrie) is a threatening, murderous villain. His initial murder of Eurydice, and appearance again as the ruler of the Underworld, is creepy. And that choice is evil enough to make the afterlife seem that much more depressing. The one thing I didn’t quite understand was the stilt-walking, but that’s more of a question for the playwright and director than it is for the actor.
Finally Eurydice (Emma Kolstedt) and Orpheus (Charlie Norman) play off of each other incredibly well. Their interactions may be brief, but you can feel the love and anguish between the two. Orpheus sends her letters in the underworld, which genuinely brought a tear to my eye. The entire cast has a synergy that breathes life into this world of the dead in a way that showcases their humanity and makes a very strange script incredibly entertaining.
The Production
Director Corrie Daniley does this script justice. Passion and expertise are evident, from the staging to how the characters interact. Also worth mentioning is the evocative sound and lighting design throughout. Jo Sanburg applies the mood and soundtrack in a show where both are important.
Ronnie Chamberlain and her Costume Shop do each character justice. Each costume shows off the characters’ personalities well, particularly the burned and marred costume for the Lord of the Underworld.
Finally, I want to bring attention to and thank the excellent House Management team who not only helped me resolve a seating issue quickly and professionally but also went above and beyond in doing so.
Overall
I’ve said this so often I’m sure any of you who regularly read my reviews know what I am about to say: Go see this Play! We happen to live in an area that has a fantastic theatre and arts community. NKU has been producing excellent student works for years with the top notch faculty, gaining more and more national recognition. It makes me very proud to be an alum of this fine institution.
Sarah Ruhl is a weird playwright. She has written nothing but odd fever dreams her entire career. I’m a fan of that, but for others your mileage may vary. This production does her work justice and I highly recommend you go see it, especially if you haven’t been to NKU to see the caliber of their work.
Get Tickets to Eurydice and Explore Upcoming NKU Shows
You can get tickets at THIS LINK or at the NKU box office. Eurydice runs from February 13th to February 22nd at NKU’s Stauss Theatre.
