“Thanks for the Memories”
This modern adaptation of a Greek tragedy is written by
Sarah Ruhl and directed by Lauren Bloom Hanover. It is playing at OCT’s Y/P Studio Theater,
1939 NE Sandy Blvd., through February 11th. For more information, go to their site at www.octc.org/YP-company
This is a great companion piece for Y/P’s previous
production, “Jasper in Deadland,” and Twilight’s latest production, “Antigone”
(as well as the film with Robin Williams, “What Dreams May Come” and the recent
animated, excellent film, “Coco”). They
are all based, in part, on Greek plays and local legends about the Underworld,
the loss of a loved one, the importance of memories and, especially, what
lengths one will go to connect again with your soul mate (there is the old
title, “To Hell and Back,” and that is exactly, in apart, what this is about).
It is said, in the lore of some countries, that as long as
one holds onto memories of a loved one, they never really die. In this case, our hero, Orpheus (Nate
Gardner), a musician, and his beloved since childhood, Eurydice (Fiona Jenkins),
are set to be married. But the one
important person, in spirit only, missing from this ceremony, is her Father
(Max Bernsohn), who is gone but not forgotten, either by her, or him and, even
though he has been washed in the River of Forgetfulness, love seems to be
stronger than even those soothing, tepid waters.
And, as in all good tragedies, this fateful day also holds
the demise of the young bride, as she, newly awashed, is greeted by The Stones
(Madeleine Adriance, Heidi Osaki and Zyla Zody), a sort of Greek Chorus, as
they’re job is to convince the recently arrived that they should be as a hard
rock, oblivious to any outside urges or influences. And the Lord of the Underworld (Henry
Sanders), an underdeveloped, bratty little kid, is charged with making sure
inmates stick to the rules—no contact with mortals or those pesky memories of “forgotten
lore.”
But not everybody plays by the same rules. The Father acts as a servant to his daughter
down under, recalling for her incidents from her life, so that her memories
will return. And the young groom refuses
to let a little thing like death prevent them from being together. It seems that there is a magic in calm waters
and music that has special powers, too.
“And thereby hangs a tale.” To
discover the outcome, you’ll just have to see it for yourself.
These young people certainly get an amazing education by
being part of the Y/P troupe. I’ve seen
them explore some pretty heady subjects over the years, which give them insight
into the adult world of life and literature, and provides a safe environment to
explore all these changing moods and emotions Youth must feel, as future
“inheritors of the earth.” This is done
in a “black box” style of theatre, where only essential props, costumes and set
pieces are used. The Stones’ outfits
were quite compelling, as were the actors playing them. Enacting the Head Demon himself as a rather
snotty little shit with a tricycle, as opposed to the more traditional approach
as a bombastic fellow, was quite a welcome change, and well acted by Sanders.
The Father and the two young lovers have a natural appeal in
their style of presentation and pull it off nicely. Hanover has done a good job of leading this
group but the production (possibly script, too) needs tightening a bit, as it
seemed to drag a little in spots, and the energy could be kicked up a notch, too. But, overall, it is good to see some
difficult material handled professionally.
I recommend this production.
If you do choose to see it, please tell them Dennis sent you.
--DJS
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