Arts Around Calgary: The Penelopiad

Everyone is familiar with the story of the Odyssey, of the heroic adventures of Odysseus that took him ten years to return home to Ithaca after the fall of Troy, but what about the women’s version of the story? Based on a novella by Margaret Atwood, the Penelopiad (performed by Alberta Theatre Projects)  explores what is essentially just a footnote in the original Odyssey by Homer, of the epic tale as experienced by Penelope’s maids.

Penelope is the princess of Sparta (yes Sparta, the place where they threw babies off cliffs). She is hailed as the ever loyal wife of Odysseus, who waited for him patiently to return home to Ithaca while fending off evil suitors bent on acquiring the Queen’s power and wealth. With its opening scene set in Hades, the play transforms the stage into lively scenes of warfare and festivities, bringing the world of ancient Greece to life.

With eerie undertones of murder, betrayal, and loneliness, the play successfully blends tragedy with light hearted humour and banter, making the audience feel cheerful at one moment and horror-struck at another. One of the most unique features of this play is its all-female cast. With only eleven actors, the ease and swiftness in which the actors switched from a fragile maid to a powerful sailor right before our very eyes was astounding to watch. Music also played a great role in the play, ranging from melancholic ballads to boisterous sea-songs, all performed by the talented actors. One of the most memorable parts of the play was its imagery at the end, with the lighting and set-up designed by Terry Gunverdale. The innocent maids, who are condemned to death, each hang themselves on the ropes suspended high from the ceiling, set against an eerie backdrop of red light, continues to haunt Penelope in Hades.

After the play, the audience was given the opportunity to interact with the actors and ask questions. It was a very interesting experience, and I learned a lot about dramatic arts.

For more information and upcoming performances, check out Alberta Theatre Project’s website:  http://www.atplive.com/