Metamorphoses
Presented in partnership with the William Daniel Mills Theatre Company
Written by Mary Zimmerman
Directed by Nick Bazo and Thomas Ouellette
Tiedtke Theatre and Dance Centre at Rollins College • Winter Park, Florida
by Carl F. Gauze
There’s not a single dry costume in the house.
If you’re going to adapt, adapt from the best. In this case, our source is Ovid, a giant in the history of ancient Greek theater. Tonight’s production leans heavily on the dramatic side of the coin, as ancient Greek political gags just aren’t that funny today, but tragedy is timeless. Tonight is an excellent baptism for the newest performance space in town, the Tiedtke Theatre and Dance Centre at Rollins College. This 100-seat black box is an intimate and versatile space, and tonight, it houses an elaborate wading pool that the actors splish, splash and act in for this collection of mostly tragic tales. Up in the control box, we find God in the form of the technical director. God calls the shots, and what makes him respectable, if not perfect, is that he controls the destinies of subjects cast to the vicissitudes of random chance.
These vignettes run the gauntlet from Oedipus descending into the depths of Hades to reclaim his lover, to Iris becoming a blind bird to atone for her sins. The full range of human emotions plays out, and we end with the gods appearing as beggars. After being turned down by 100 good citizens when they asked for a bite of bread, this last couple’s generosity was repaid with eternal life in each other’s arms, and an excellent standing ovation.
This is a wonderful evening of storytelling that brings out the best in these ancient tales of the human condition. The space is wonderful as well, with good sight lines, comfortable seats, and that wonderful New Theater Smell. Will this show change your heart? I think so. I see myself in more than a few scenes.
