Review: Eurydice at the ACT Theatre
A play by Sarah Ruhl at the ACT Theatre, Eurydice is the classical myth of love, heartbreak and death.
Eurydice (Renata Friedman) and Orpheus (Trick Danneker) are wonderfully in love and the play starts out so magical with two young people in love. Everything and nothing has meaning to these young lovers. The set is minimalist with strings placed around the stage, much like harp strings when plucked musical sounds are heard. Marriage is planned and Eurydice’s dead father makes his first appearance to wish her well. Mark Chamberlin’s role as the father is well done and ties the story together.
However, things do not work out well, when death appears Eurydice ends up dead and is delivered to the underworld by an elevator. The three actors that provide the Greek chorus are Anne Allgood (Loud Stone), Tim Hyland (Big Stone), and Tracy Hyland (Little Stone). But in this play the Underworld can be kind of a fun place to be. Actor, Paul Morgan Stetler is both funny and creepy at the same time.
Eurydice is a very symbolic tale set in the 50’s that starts out joyous and ends up not so happy.
A follow-up companion piece to the play is Project Orpheus by the Seattle Dance Project, which is the dance narrative based upon the Greek myth. Showing September 13-October 4, at the Bullitt Theatre.
Eurydice plays now through October 5, 2008. Tickets range from $10/$15 (students/people 25 and under) to $55. For tickets or more information visit www.acttheatre.org
Ethel W.
