In modern times, it wouldn’t be surprising to hear many people answer the question “What is the Odyssey?” with the retort “a mini van.” However, the theatrical production of The Odyssey, performed by Minnesota State University Mankato, brings a contemporary element to the epic story, making it another modern Odyssey worth recognizing.
The Odyssey is one of two Greek epic poems by Homer. This particular poem centers on Odysseus, a cunning Greek hero who spends ten years trying to return to his homeland of Ithaca after fighting for a decade in the Trojan War.
While Odysseus combats Cyclops, resists the sweet songs of the Sirens and is kept captive by the goddess Calypso, his wife Penelope and son Telemachus must ward off the suitors who come to woo the assumed widow. With the help of the goddess Athena, Odysseus attempts to return to his wife, unknowingly racing against time and the attentions of other men.
The version performed by Minnesota State University Mankato is a humorous and irreverent adaptation of the direction by Mary Zimmerman, which often makes fun of the original Odyssey within the confines of the plot. While the entirety of the poetic Odyssey could take days to perform, Zimmerman’s abridged three-hour version moves at a steady pace and contains enough witty dialogue to keep audiences engaged.
With 29 actors in the cast, there is hardly ever a dull moment. Clayton Oliver Rutschow, who plays Odysseus, tackles the role with a domineering stage presence. Rutschow fully grasps the many facets of Odysseus’ complex personality, from his compulsive lying to his determination to fight all odds against him, making his performance believable and inspiring.
Also exceptional was Kimberly Michelle Steffen as Athena, Odysseus’ guardian angel (or God) and narrator of the play. Steffen enthusiastically took on Athena’s mortal disguises, ranging from a precocious child to an old man. The on-stage costume changes made Athena’s guises easy to follow, but her commitment and seriousness in playing each new role brought many laughs to the eager audience.
In tackling a play of epic proportions, director Paul Hustoles chose an adaptation of the script that suited both his cast and the audience. While mentions of the Odyssey might cause some people to groan while remembering sleeping through the poem in high school English class, Hustoles’ creative stage directions make it impossible for audiences to fall asleep.
With a large ensemble, Hustoles employs actors to portray animals, posing as everything from sheep to dogs to pigs. The ensemble’s bestial mannerisms and “baas” and “oinks” are not only natural, but are hilarious as well, as audiences are pleased to see “animals” roam in and out of the scenes.
The set designed by Tom Bilese consists primarily of white sheets attached to long wooden poles, which are transformed from ship sails to Grecian pillars within seconds. Additionally, the blank backgrounds of the sheets allow for shadowing effects, which were especially effective in the memorable Cyclops scene, where the one eyed giant appeared to “eat” an actor.
To help establish the setting in the numerous scene changes, Steven Smith’s light cues effectively provide warm, golden glows when the action shifts to the heavens, and icy blue hues when Odysseus travels to the underworld. Masks worn by the gods and traditional Grecian togas worn by commoners also help to distinguish between characters, as many actors take on multiple roles throughout the show.
The drama’s only weakness lies in the sound, which incorporates both pre-recorded effects and melodies. Though not used often, the voice-overs came through as fuzzy and unclear, and the songs in the background and during scene changes seemed out of place.
Overall, the show was an incredible success, vividly depicting the long adventure of Odysseus with a tongue-in-cheek approach that leaves audiences simultaneously laughing at and cheering on the ancient Greek hero.
No comments:
Post a Comment