Eurydice: A re-imagining comes to Kelowna
Photo credit and copyrights to Shane Collins & Gonzo Okanagan
Sarah Ruhl brings the Greek classic, ‘Eurydice’ to the Mary Irwin Theatre in Kelowna’s Rotary Centre for the Arts November 9-11 and 16-19. It is a unique collaboration of both Creative Okanagan and The Virago Collective. They will be tasked with the elaborate needs of the plays production. From the love of a father to the tricks of the under lord, this is a love story of epic proportions. The entire cast is local, including its production and musical score.
EURYDICE is a Greek myth about Orpheus and his wife, Eurydice. The play’s director, Angela Lavender, says, “It’s a story of love, loss and reconnection. Themes that all audience members have experienced.”
The story goes: Eurydice dies on her wedding night. She travels to the underworld and is reunited with her father. Together, they retrieve memories of her lost love. Meanwhile, Orpheus, who is a famous composer, convinces the Lord of the Underworld to give him one shot at bringing his wife back to the living world.
Sounds pretty cool.
Attempting this production has been three years in the making. It has become its own odyssey and this upcoming weekend, the stage will finally be set for the story to unfold for theater enthusiasts to enjoy.
The music production is done by none other than local composer, WINDMILLS. In a press release, he is quoted as saying that, “This is my first time working on a theater production as a composer, and the process has been extremely liberating and rewarding, yet daunting. I’ve created a score grounded in piano but manipulated to serve the needs and purposes of the script and events within the play.”
Tickets are starting at $29 and each show starts at 7:30pm. After the opening performance, November 9th, there will be a cocktail reception with the creative team. And on November 29th, there will be a sit and talk with attendees and selected cast members. It will be a rare opportunity to talk to those so passionately invested in the journey of this production.
Eurydice and her story are worth following into the underworld and as the winter grinds its teeth along the distant mountaintops, I could not think of a better time to take in a night of theater. I hope to see you there.
Find your tickets here.
