An Exhilarating Production of Of the Earth: The Salt Plays Part 2

Richard Connema
Thursday, January 20, 2011
talkingbroadway.com

Shotgun Players are presenting a riveting production based on Homer's "The Iliad" called Of the Earth: The Salt Plays Part 2. This is a modern day telling of Odysseus traveling back to his home in Ithaca. The cutting edge company always does innovative productions of the classics, and Jon Tracy's deconstruction of Homer's work is excellent. The staging alone on the small Ashby Theatre stage is awesome.

Of the Earth: The Salt Plays Part 2 is the follow-up to last summer's In the Wound: The Salt Plays Part 1 which began with Odysseus (Dan Bruno) leaving Troy to return to his home. In Part 2 Odysseus takes the audience on a new journey through the madness of his traumatized mind. One gets the idea that most of what he is going through is in his head since there are video scenes where he is shooting drugs into his arm.

The crafty Greek military leader fends off the seduction of Circe (Charisse Loriaux) and fights the monstrous Cyclops and Scylla (five actresses play these parts). Penelope (Lexie Papedo), Odysseus' wife, repels dozens of suitors since many believe Odysseus is dead. She says she must finish weaving a shroud and then she secretly destroys her work and starts over each day. We are introduced to the goddesses Hera (Emily Rosenthal), Athena (Elena Wright) and Aphrodite (Charisse Loriaux).

The Shotgun Players production is stunning in its design on the small stage, thanks to set designer Nina Ball's sets and Bridgette Loriaux' brilliant athletic choreography and movements for the five actresses as they hang from poles about the stage. Tina Yeaton's celestial spacesuits a la Star Wars for the gods and goddesses give a futuristic look to the play. Odysseus is dressed in a modern day black business suit.

The actresses transform themselves from hero's crew to a brilliant ensemble, Cyclops and monster Scylla. There are pounding of drums (sound director Kristoffer Barrera) in some of the scenes to designate the rowing of the ship. Strongly layered videos on a huge wall at the back of the stage by Lloyd Vance are brilliant in this two-hour with intermission drama. Lighting by Lucas Krech is dynamic, giving the production a dramatic flare. Bravo also to Fight Director Dave Maier for realistic fights with the monsters. This is a breathtaking '50s staging of the classic tale.

Anna Ishida, Charisse Loriaux, Rami Margron, Emily Rosenthal and Elena Wright are excellent as the goddesses. Also, Anna Ishida and Rami Margron are successful playing the male gods Poseidon and Zeus. Charisse Loriaux has a sensual voice vocalizing as Circe. She also makes a lovely Aphrodite.

Don Bruno gives a strong performance as Odysseus while Lexie Papedo is splendid as his wife Penelope who weaves large ropes about the stage. Newcomer Daniel Petzold gives an interesting performance as Odysseus' son Telemachus who views most of the Trojan War on a television set.

You really don't have to know Bullfinch's Mythology to enjoy this modern take on "The Iliad." It is a highly entertaining production of Odysseus' journey back to his home.