Dramaturgy is the theory and practice of dramatic composition. Below are research summaries of each scenes historical background. Follow along with the show as you please. Enjoy!
Scene 1: Creation - Our stories begins before the origin of time. Earth is created and our fates are solidifying. Past, Present, Future. Each look at the creation different ways as the Romans and Greeks religiously influenced different cultures. Their words become reality. They are not to be changed, challenged or altered. They walk among us and watch us from above.
Scene 2: The Magic Touch of Mr. *** - Enter Midas [GREEK], an opportunistic businessman for which we are all too familiar. Always wanting more, his greed will cost him more than he is willing to lose. His desire: wealth. His daughter's desire: attention.
Scene 3: Sail Away - Alcyone and Ceyx [GREEK] are filled with love and yearn to keep it. Anyone connected to military service will identify with this story. With a Grecian, light spin, this tale tells the basic story of “if you love something set it free.” Alcyone prays for the health and safety of her husband. Be careful what you pray/wish for because there is always a catch. Alcyone’s desire: her Husband.
Scene 4: Insatiable - So far we have seen a "hunger" for money and love. Erisycthon [GREEK] looks at the world of consumerism's hunger. He cuts down a sacred tree for personal gain. However, his emotional hunger for money leaves his physical being unfed. Ceres has become enraged with him and sends Oread to ask Hunger to go to Erisycthon. Ever heard or used the phrase “my stomach is eating itself?"
Scene 5: Turning Things Around - Following the death of Eurydice’s on their wedding day, Orpheus [GREEK] had a grief the world cannot contain. He journeys to the Underworld. Orpheus proclaims his love for Eurydice. He asks Hades to grant his beloved three more years on earth. The wish is granted provided he trusts that she is behind him as they leave and does not turn around. This story is truly about trusting your heart and controlling one’s impulse. His desire: happiness.
Scene 6: Removing Masks - Vertumnus [ROMAN] proclaims his love for Pomona and he even goes to great lengths to get her to notice him including dressing as different characters. While dressed as an old woman, he tells her how a goddess once punished a nymph who ignored people who wanted to love her. Vertumnus would do anything to get Pomona to love him back. His desire: her.
Scene 7: Daddy Issues: Side A (The Dark Side) - Myrrha, [GREEK] is the daughter of Cinyras. Pushing away all the suitors that have come to her door, she has enraged Aphrodite. She then fills her with a crude passion like none other.
Scene 8: Daddy Issues: Side B (A Less-Dark Side) - Apollo and Phaeton, [GREEK/ROMAN]is a story of a single-parent family. Apollo is the god of the Sun, and father of Phaeton. Phaeton knew Apollo was his father but never met him. So one day he could not bear anymore and had to meet his father face to face. He desired his love and attention.
Scene 9: Love is Blind - The Bible tells us the story of Paul, who was to believe by faith and not by sight. Shout out to Rome for Global Tapestry! Eros and Psyche. [GREEK] Two lovely kids from different “sides of the track” that fight against the world for their desire: love. We enter our history lesson with the two as observants. They watch from a fourth wall they cannot break, one more blind of the truth than the other. The true question is: Will they see all that is there?
Scene 10: Fire and Desire - Metamorphoses means to be re-born. As Seniors we are ending this stage of our lives as we look toward college. Our loving fires of friends and family will not be extinguished. Our tree will live on. We will fan our fires in a new direction. Given a choice, we choose to be good people and global citizens. We are now stripped to our core without power or without status. We are equal. We share the same bare desires with each other and now you - love, happiness, and most importantly: change. Thank you for four great years!
