Over the years that we have covered the presentations of the Athena Theatre Company, the one thing we have mentioned in almost every review has been the willingness of the company to venture into areas that are usually reserved for the intrepid who are not afraid to explore no matter what the results.   We’ve seen it with shows like Crimes of the Heart, Waiting for Godot, Pterodactyls and now with Metamorphoses where one the city’s most courageous ensembles steps back in time two thousand years and makes the stories of Ovid as real and up-to-date as anything you see today.

Award winning playwright Mary Zimmerman’s adaptation brings together some of Ovid’s mythical characters around a symbolic pool, where at various times narrators tell stories of the gods as they frolic, laugh, love and even sometimes die.  The amazing set construction coupled with music, sound effects and visuals create an idyllic setting where a committed ensemble takes us into the realms of Zeus, Midas, Eurydice, Alcyone and others presenting us with those segments of their myths that have endured centuries.

The presentation has several tales, from the story of Midas, whose avarice and greed almost destroy the one person he loved most to the beautiful tale of Ceyx and Alcyone, who are changed into halcyons by the gods after their death to fly together forever. The story of Eurydice who is given an opportunity to leave the under world when Orpheus comes to get her as long as he does not turn back to look at her, is poignant and moving.  Then there’s the sizzling story of Myrrah's compelling need to possess her father.  When the yearly Ceres' rites takes her mother away from the marital bed Myrrha consummates her incestuous desires with her blindfolded father. 

 

A lighter story includes Vertumnus, the god of seasons who desires the beautiful Pomona and tricks her into talking to him by disguising himself as an old woman. He tells her a story warning of the dangers of rejecting a suitor (the tale of Iphis and Anaxarete) but Pomona knew his ploy all along.  In an opposite vein an arrogant man who dared cut down a tree in the sacred grove of Demeter is punished by Ceres who sends Famine (Hunger) to dwell in his entrails, so that he always felt an insatiable hunger. His raging hunger, causes him to gnaw his own limbs, until he consumes himself entirely.  How often are children anxious to take over for their parents only to discover they are not ready for it?  Phaeton bragged his father was the sun god but his friends never believed him.  He finally convinces his father, Helios, to let him drive his chariot, but when he finally gets it he is unable to control it and creates havoc as the crashes and veers so badly that Helios is forced to intervene by striking the chariot with a lighting bolt.  Aphrodite cursed Psyche to fall in love with the ugliest man, but when Eros approaches to shoot his golden arrow that would curse her, he pricks himself with the arrow and falls in love with her himself. 

 

With love, the loss of love, the search for love and other love related events being the central theme, it seems that these gods had a great deal of time on their hands as they manipulated the poor unsuspecting mortals. The mortals who portrayed them at the Lankershim Arts Center are wonderfully manipulated (read Directed) by Patrick Varon whose sensitivity and style allows the actors to develop their multiple roles.  It is a massive effort, which brings together a talented ensemble and a creative production team resulting in a presentation that is sometimes dark, sometimes brilliant, sometimes moody but always riveting and compelling.  No matter what critics write, the best judge is the public who attends, and we heard many patrons describe their reactions with one common word as they exited – “Beautiful”.    What’s there to add?

Comments? Write to us at: Letters@ReviewPlays.Com

www.athenatheatre.com

 

The ensemble includes:

 

Brett Aune as Vertumnus and others
Sally Conway as Alcyone and others
Robin Daléa as Nursemaid and others
Sara Beth Lane as Aphrodite and others
West Liang as Orpheus and others
John A. Lorenz as Phaeton and others
Billy Mayo as Erysichthon and others
Veronique Ory as Eurydice and others
Guy Perry as Hunger and others
Gugun Deep Singh as Midas and others
Tania Verafield as Myrrha and others

 

General Admission $20 presale on-line
Or $25 cash only at the door

 

Ovation Award Eligible LAStageAlliance.com

Reservations: 818-754-1423

 

The Lankershim Arts Center is located at 5108 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601

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