Ripon College Days

Issue date: 2/24/10 Section: Arts and Culture

Media Credit: Masanari Onda Lurking in the background. Jeff M. Davis watches the events transpire between Paul Steffens and Cady Cummings in a scene from Eurydice. The performance opens Wednesday March 3 at 7:30 p.m.

A unique production of the play, Eurydice, by Sarah Ruhl is coming to a stage near you Wednesday, March 3 through Saturday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. in Benstead Theatre, Rodman Center for the Arts. The play portrays mythology in a contemporary setting.

Eurydice falls to her death on her wedding day and is sentenced to an eternal life in the Underworld. She reunites with her father who died recently. The minions of the Lord of the Underworld, which are a fantastic chorus of animated stones, are surprised to see that Eurydice and her father have memories of their lives. Her husband, Orpheus, finds a way to get to the Underworld, hoping to take her back with him. The only catch is that he cannot look at her until they are out of the Underworld. He looks at her and they are separated for eternity. Her attempts to be with her husband have also caused her to forget her father. She will now live with no memory of her past for eternity.

There are many thoughts that go into choosing the perfect play to produce. For some the decision takes awhile but for others they know the perfect play the moment they have it in their hands. Director Robert Amsden was hesitant about choosing this play because of its popularity but after considering it for some months and studying the script, he decided to include it in this year's theatre season.

"The play also carries touching moments of the experience of loss through death or illness and it has a joyous topsy-turvy aspect to it too," says Amsden. "I thought the play could challenge the department technically and via design. In this play, the design and technical elements play strong roles in creating meaning for the audience."

Amsden's choice may have been a tough one but, it is greatly favored by the cast. There are many parts to love about the play and each person involved is able to make it a fun experience.

"There's a scene where I get to enter as a young child on a bouncy ball," says Jeff M. Davis. "If Greek tragedy always included a scene on a bouncy ball, it'd be much more fun."

Continued...

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