Odd Issues (2004)
Odd Issues
By Penny Rosenfeld
An adaptation of The Odyssey, written, produced and directed by Paddy Salmon.
Co-directed by Pat Morgenroth, Vicki Salmon, Ben See and Pat Short.
Presented 6 - 8 April 2004
Since around 800 B.C. Homer’s writings have inspired authors and artists in new creative works, with varying degrees of success. One hundred years ago, on 16th June 1904, James Joyce’s modern-day Odysseus, Leopold Bloom, set off on his day’s voyage round Dublin in the ground-breaking ‘Ulysses’ that was to explode the traditional form of the novel. However, a less glorious place in history has been forecast for a recent version of the ‘Iliad’, the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Troy.’ One critic’s verdict was, “wooden horse, wooden acting, wouldn’t bother.”
In a small suburb near Paris, at the (rosy-fingered?) dawn of the 21st century, our own Paddy Salmon presented his adaptation of the mythical tale to an expectant public. Not one, but five Odysseuses sprang on to stage, each responsible for the role in subsequent sections of the play. A squabbling committee of the Gods presented a Hermes on roller blades, Poseidon in garish beach attire, with a surfboard tucked under his arm and Zeus trying to engineer a post-meeting tryst with Aphrodite. Penelope and her huge gang of unruly suitors launched into song to the music of ‘Gimme a man after midnight.’ By the time the lights went up on the first Odysseus, in swimming costume and sunglasses, lounging in a deckchair, drinking cocktails and fanned by bikini-clad nymphs, we had become aware that we were in the presence of a radical new interpretation......
A cavalcade of groups of choruses, sailors, sirens and suitors succeeded each other on the stage complemented by many memorable individual performances. Calypso was a temperamental Hollywood diva, Achilles a camp narcissist. Rosy-fingered Dawn capered across the stage in an entrancing pink feather boa. Cyclops, the one-eyed monster, charged around the stage gathering up shrieking little sailors and dragged them into his cave for a feast accompanied by horrible gurgling and chomping sounds. Silky, slithery Circe stepped on to stage to seduce and enchant. Beautiful Nausicaa, a fluttering coquette, succumbed to Odysseus’s charms, whilst hideous Charybdis swung him into her whirlpool and threatened to spin his ship faster than a Hotpoint washing machine!
Over the three evening performances of the play the motley crew of kids evolved into a cohesive whole. The nervous little sirens of the first night had become practised temptresses by the last one, rumoured to have received lessons in hip-shaking seduction techniques from their elders in the lycée. Improvisations crept in. Odysseus’s nurse, Eurycleia made a surprise appearance in the fight scene on the final night, wielding a rolling pin and whacking suitors with great enthusiasm. Teacher Ben See acquired instant cult status with a virtuoso guitar performance of Led Zeppelin in the interval.
The play was a rich melting pot. Sèvres came to Chaville and college students rubbed shoulders with the lycée in this exuberant production that involved over 150 children. Music, dance, art and magic tricks were woven into the play’s colourful tapestry. Original songs were composed by Raphael Husser and performed by a talented group of musicians, Laura Sochas choreographed the sirens’ dance and Quentin Rodriguez designed the stylish poster. The interval held no respite. Benoit Mrejean to our stupefaction, defied padlocks and closed sacks to escape from an impenetrable chest every evening,( except for the time when his assistant got the keys mixed up!) The efficient back stage crew held the production together with excellent organisation behind the scenes. A small army of parents, marshalled under the supreme organisational talents of Deborah Dejean helped with costumes, tickets, bartending, sandwich-making and surveillance.
The greatest accolade must go to Paddy Salmon, the author, producer and director of this 3 hour festivity. His crackling, witty and subversive script stimulated the inventive energies of our talented actors. He and co-directors, Pat Morgenroth, Vicki Salmon, Ben See and Pat Short devoted countless after-school hours and weekends to rehearsals and preparations. They deserve our heartfelt thanks for the fun and excitement experienced by all the children who participated in this joyful production. And the final verdict?
No wooden horse. Wonderful acting. Wouldn’t miss it.
Dernière modification le 22-06-06 par
