Cast of “Eurydice” Pulls Off an Emotional and Abstract Production
Micah Bessette
He/Him
Staff Writer
11/14/24
“Eurydice” is a melancholy story about heartbreak, dealing with loss, and moving on. The show will have you immersed in Sarah Ruhl’s reimagining of the classic Greek myth and will invoke some of your deepest emotions.
On November 14th, 15th, and 16th, the Plymouth State theater department will showcase their production of “Eurydice” in the Elizabeth Cheney Studio Theatre at the Silver Center for the Arts. The production features a unique 360-degree stage, where the audience surrounds the actors.
Within the first five minutes of the show, I found the tone to be oddly nostalgic and almost surreal. The show follows Eurydice, a girl in love with the musician Orpheus. In the process of dealing with the grief of her father’s death, Eurydice finds herself in the underworld, much to the dismay of Orpheus. As the show progresses, Eurydice begins to learn about her and her father’s past, and their time apart causes her and Orpheus’ love to grow stronger.
Although the plot itself was a little repetitive at times, I think the point of this show is to project emotion and to surround the audience in a blanket of feeling, and that definitely worked on me. “I think some plays and musicals serve as comedic relief, but I hope that this can serve as a sort of catharsis,” said Meredith Hoole, playing Eurydice’s character.
Being in the small studio theater so close to the actors, seeing and hearing the amazing technical work put on by the crew, and being able to feel the raw emotion created by combining all the elements, has made this one of my favorite shows and productions I’ve ever seen.
Everyone involved in this production deserves so much credit for putting on such a beautiful show, but there were a few performances that really stuck out to me. Hoole as Eurydice felt so natural. Her confidence and curiosity created a relatable character that told a believable story. James Kelleher as Orpheus was passionate and determined, and his portrayal of grief felt realistic. Finally, Summer Smith-Hemeon as Lord of the Underworld / Child made me extremely uncomfortable in the best way possible (I’m hoping that’s what was intended).
I also have to mention that the technical effects were stunning, and made it feel like I was in the world with the actors. The audio and visual effects, costumes, makeup, and music are always what separate a good show from a great show.
Throughout the production process, one of the biggest difficulties for the cast was getting used to the arena style theater with audiences on all sides. Actors are typically trained to never have their backs to the audience, so getting used to the different style was a challenge. “It’s really hard to get over that mental game of ‘well someone’s not going to be seeing you,’” said Hoole.
There are many upsides to the studio theater. I found the show to be much more personal because of it. Kelleher also mentioned how “you could watch from any angle and get a completely new experience.”
The synergy and trust between the actors was noticeable on stage. Jessie Chapman, the show’s director, mentioned how they would bond during rehearsals. “Even though it’s a sad show we ended most [rehearsals] with a silly game or a dance party. It was delightful seeing them all grow and getting to work with them,” she said.
If you’re a fan of anything melancholy or nostalgic, then you would love “Eurydice.” The cast and crew, including Kelleher, are looking forward to seeing you at the production. “It’s very dynamic, it’s very abstract, and it’s very emotional. It’s just a great piece and I really hope that people come and check it out!”