by Rachel Williams
The University of West Georgia Department of Theatre is bringing Greek tragedy to Carrollton—but with a modern twist. The November 19 community preview of “Eurydice,” a play by Sarah Ruhl, was so popular that many waitlisted potential audience members had to be turned away. The play officially runs from November 20 through November 23, with 7:30 p.m. showings each night and an additional 2:30 p.m. showing on November 23. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, and free with a valid student ID. Tickets to the community preview were offered at a discounted $3.
“Eurydice” combines Greek mythology with 1950s-style fashion and technology to explore the different types of love. The play retells the myth of the demi-god Orpheus from the perspective of his wife, Eurydice. Eurydice dies on her wedding day and subsequently finds herself in the underworld. Her father, who died many years before, greets her and helps her remember her identity. When Orpheus breaks into the underworld to save Eurydice, the young bride must choose whether to remain with her father or return to the world of the living with her husband.
The set of “Eurydice” was so elaborate that it was practically a playground for the actors. In addition to a glass-paned ramp and a room made of string, the set also featured a raining doorframe, a well with a working water pump and an inlaid pool large enough for the actors to lie down in. Simply by adjusting the lights and sound effects, the stage easily transformed from a sunny lakeside to a dreary underworld.
For more information on upcoming plays by the UWG Theatre Department, please visit www.westga.edu/~theatre.
