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Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: San Francisco

Eurydice
Shotgun Players

Also see Richard's reviews of The Country House and The Phantom of the Opera


Megan Trout, James Carpenter, Peter Griggs, Jeannine Anderson, and Beth Wilmurt as Little Stone.
The Shotgun Players production of Sarah Ruhl's Eurydice brings new meaning to the story as it is told by Eurydice (Megan Trout). She is very much in love the famous musician Orpheus (Kenny Toll) but is still grieving over the death of her father (James Carpenter). Her father is watching her from the underworld as he still has his memory and has the ability to read and write, unlike other spirits. Eurydice dies and she meets her father once again in the underworld, and he helps her remember their bond as well as her life and love above ground. But when Orpheus arrives, she struggles to choose between the father and lover.

This 90-minute drama is very poetic and nothing is straightforward in the production. There are many magical elements, thanks to director Erika Chong Shuch, including a menacing Hades (Nils Frykdahl) and a Greek chorus of Stones (Jeannine Anderson, Peter Griggs, Beth Wilmurt). The opening is a spectacular gymnastic love scene between Orpheus and Eurydice (Megan Trout is a former gymnast). Later, the couple joyfully dance at their wedding (whimsically choreographed by Liz Tenuto) to the tune of "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree."

The playwright's take on the tale is really a contemplation on death and anguish, recollection and forgetting. It's humorous and caring, nightmarish and irrational, with the tones shifting suddenly and simply from one moment to the next.

Sean Riley's set is two-levels of massive steel tanks, water pipes, tiers of buckets, and rope pulleys that dominate the intimate Ashby stage. There is even rain coming from the overhead pipes onto the stage. Christine Crook has designed outlandish, dazzling costumes for the Stones and Hades.

James Carpenter gives an impeccable performance as the father. Even his movements are pitch perfect in this dream play. Megan Trout's performance as Eurydice is impressive. She beautifully plays the role as a naïve and innocent character. Kenny Toll balances adroitly between anguish and absurdity in the role of Orpheus. Nils Frykdahl comically rocks as the Lord of the Underworld. Jeannine Anderson, Peter Griggs, and Beth Wilmurt as the Stones are dressed like a Las Vegas chorus in a Cirque du Soleil show and are excellent in their respective roles.

Eurydice plays through October 4, 2015, at the Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave, Berkeley. For tickets call 510-841-6500 or visit www.shotgunplayers.org.


Photo: Pak Ha


Be sure to check the lineup of great shows this season in the San Francisco area

- Richard Connema