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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Odysseus and the Really Freaky Monsters
Verdict: Off to Troy on wheels
Edinburgh 06 - C Venues - 2-19 Aug 06 - 11:15 (1:10)
A wooden cut-out ship with a duck's head dominates the stage. Within is the hero Odysseus (Will Franklin) and his crew - most of whom are puppet-heads on sticks.
Aphrodite (Anna McCleod), Hera (on alternate days Katherine Barry / Chrystalla Spire) and Athena (Tina Swain) tell of Greek gods and goddesses, and their part in the judgement of Paris. The early horse-play shows this is going to be very silly. The ship goes off to Troy on wheels.
Odysseus and Eurylochus (Mike Hall) purchase a pantomime horse, and the Trojan War is soon won - with much punning and more horse-play. Poseidon (Alan Herring) and Zeus (John Stenhouse) bet each other that they can prevent Odysseus's return home. Zeus in Elvis-mode sings of his powers and is answered by Poseidon. This is played at two levels, to amuse adults and children.
On the way home, Odysseus, Eurylochus, Elpinor (Richard Neal) and Thingy (Theo Spyrides) encounter Polythemus (Jon Russell) - ten feet tall, one-eyed and hairy. They escape after he has eaten some of the puppet heads. Circe (Emma Barry) removes a few more. Odysseus is soon running out of companions and time, and getting no nearer home.
He encounters the monster Scylla (Rebecca Russell) and plays Blind Diety with her nine heads. Aeolus (John Stenhouse), the wind god, gives him a bagful of farts - with disastrous results. After playing calypsos with Calypso (Emma Barry), he is finally home and dry.
It sticks to the original story - mostly - and doesn't go over the top with silly bits of business (comes close though). A delight for young and old. Children and adults in today's audience are amused and intrigued by the whole thing - a delight.
Cast Credits: Penelope/Calypso/Circe - Emma Barry. Hera - Katherine Barry (alternate days). Odysseus - Will Franklin. Eurylochus - Mike Hall. Poseidon/Hermes/Tireseus - Alan Herring. Aphrodite - Anna Mcleod. Elphinor - Richard Neal. Polythemus - Jon Russell. Scylla - Rebecca Russell. Hera - Chrystalla Spire (alternate days). Zeus/Aeolus - John Stenhouse.
Company Credits: Director - Philip Reardon. Technical Operator - Robin Gardner. Company - Tidemark Theatre. Website - www.tidemark.co.uk
END
(c) Peter Andrews 2006
reviewed 8 August / C Venues
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
