Review: Taproot makes Homer’s “The Odyssey” compelling and vibrant.

Review: The Odyssey by Homer. Adapted by Mary Zimmerman and based on Robert Fitzgerald’s translation. Directed by Scott Nolte. With Mark Chamberlin, Nikki Visel, Stephen Grenley, Nolan Palmer, Pam Nolte, Ryan Childers, Nicholas Beach, Randy Scholz, April Wolfe. Now through March 5 at Taproot Theatre.

Nolan Palmer as Eumaeus, Nikki Visel as Athena, and Mark Chamberlin as Odysseus. Photo: Erik Stuhaug

Taproot Theater wisely chose to stage acclaimed director/playwright Mary Zimmerman’s adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey instead of other versions available. Ms Zimmerman is an award winning theater artist and her clever, crisp adaptation manages to be both relevant to modern audiences, and faithful to the original source material. All the drama, passion, adventure and comedy of Homer’s classic work is on stage at Taproot, with a confidently directed and well acted production of the play anchored by a brilliant performance from veteran Seattle actor, Mark Chamberlin as Odysseus. For those of you leery of classical works, rest assured that this is not your “grandma’s old school” Greek tragedy with declamatory, ham acting and florid pose. Ms Zimmerman has crafted a work that manages to be poetically beautiful, yet understandable for contemporary audiences. And, you should also understand that The Odyssey is really the first action adventure entertainment in Western Literature…it has plenty of sex, fight scenes, monsters of all varieties, special effects, disaster scenes and a couple of musical production numbers. There’s something for everyone to enjoy, and it’s all lovingly staged by the Taproot and a large cast of talented actors including the excellent Mr Chamberlin, so commanding in the lead role, and with fine support from Nikki Visel as the Goddess Athena, Pam Nolte as Penelope, and Nolan Palmer, April Wolfe, and Stephen Grenley in a variety of roles. (also: Nicholas Beach and his fine singing voice.)

One quibble with this production: Co-founder and current artistic director Scott Nolte directed this production and the very experienced director does a fine job with staging, but some of the bigger, more emotional and powerful moments in this show felt a bit flat especially in the second act, and specifically the scenes in the Underworld, and the encounters with the Sirens and the Scylla/Charybdis adventure. Taproot isn’t wealthy, but I would have liked to have seen a bit more imaginative stagecraft in these big moments…more creative use of lights, sound, effects, masks and some puppetry would have really pumped up those scenes. I’d encourage Taproot to go talk to the folks that put on the Fremont Solstice Parade…they know how to put on an imaginative show on a shoestring budget.

Who’s this for? Lovers of quality theater. Families (the sex and violence is pretty PG-13). Fantasy and myth nerds.