Metamorphoses

‘Metamorphoses’, written in 1997 by Nebraska born Mary Zimmerman, is a series of vignettes based on the humorous poetic Greek myths, ‘Metamorphoses of Ovid’ (Ovid was a well-loved Greek author). Please don’t turn off at this stage, nor let your eyes glaze in disinterest, this play, directed by Leah Mercer brings a fascinating new life to the legendary fables and myths, which are based around water. Presented by Curtin Performance Studies and the Hayman Theatre Company at The Subiaco Arts Centre, 180 Hamersley Road, Subiaco nightly at 8.00 pm until 7^th August.

        It is modern day, and several  laundresses are washing clothes in the stream, when the rich, but avaricious, King Midas (Charles Wu) arrives. Being a businessman he has little patience with his noisy young daughter (Kirsty Marillier), yet he continues to explain to all, how caring he is for his family. When Bacchus (Joshua Magee) turns up, he grants Midas ‘a wish’ for his courteousness. Midas of course asks for the golden touch – not a wise move.

        Seamlessly we flow onto the next myth. King Ceyx sets sail to discover some far-off places. Despite his wife, Alcyone's (Samantha Daniels) warnings of terrible danger, he leaves her on the shore. Poseidon destroys Ceyx's ship and the king is drowned. Could this sad tale possibly have a happy ending? What are Halcyon Days?

        When Erysichthon (Jordan Nix) orders the sacred tree to be felled, the goddess Ceres commands the spectre Hunger (Emma O’Sullivan) to go with him everywhere, and make him ever hungry. Erysichthon, now penniless with buying food, sells his mother (Rhiannon Eastman) to a merchant for grub money. What will befall his mother? What do you eat when all the food has gone?

        The tale of Orpheus (Alex Brittan) and Eurydice is told twice. The first version is Orpheus’s tragic wedding day. The second story is of Orpheus’s journey to the Underworld.

        The brief Narcissus reflection story, is followed the tale of the wood nymph Pomona and shy Vertumnus. Then there is Myrrha (Michelle Snedden), who after rejecting Aphrodite's love is cursed with a sexual yearning for her father. How will she seduce her father?

        Phaeton, the son of Apollo, is lounging in the pool talking to his psychologist (Verity Softly) about his love for his father – who has become the Sun – and the inability for the two to communicate.

       The love story of Eros and Psyche is next. Finally in these fables, is the story of an old couple, Baucus and Philemon, how, when they are visited by rejected strangers, they take them in and feed them only to discover that they are the Gods Zeus and Hermes.

This multitude of delightfully written, 10-minute snippets were very well portrayed, with clear enunciation and powerful delivery. The storylines were extremely comprehensible, even the Primary School kids in the front row were totally engrossed in silence for the whole non-stop 90 minutes of the performance. When a totally naked Eros appeared (in very dim lighting) neither a snigger nor a gasp, they never blinked an eyelid, they simply loved all of the stories - many of which have reflections of life today. Director Leah Mercer and her assistant Andrew Clarke had many little ‘happenings’ and effects going on throughout the play. The cast of ten were faultless in performing the thirty very different characters.

Tess Darcey’s set design worked beautifully. As I mentioned earlier, the plays require water. There were two in-ground pools, built by Ian Stewart, which were used extensively throughout. The cast spent most of their time being absolutely drenched. This required stage manager, Matt Randall and his assistant Kevin Chan, to send in the cleaning women between various acts to mop up the spillage. The variety of different venues and situations called for inventive lighting, and this was capably supplied by Duncan Sharp – operated by Briege Whitehead. Wonderfully crisp sound effects from sound designer, Chris Olive. The costumes, because of the water, had to be functional and yet still depict the play’s characters, congratulations to Shelby Shaw.

I went to see this show expecting a heavy night of Greek tragedies and came away with a big smile, a fun night, very well acted. The 90 minutes flew by.

Gordon the Optom