If you know your Greek myths, you may recall the one about Orpheus, the master musician whose remarkable abilities on the lute was said to cause animals, and even trees and rocks to dance. Orpheus is the subject of a famed operetta by 19th century French composer Jacques Offenbach, whose “Galop Infernal” from “Orpheus in the Underworld” lives on in the popular imagination as “The Cancan” in film and TV.
A modern theatrical retelling of the Greek myth reframes the tale from the perspective of Eurydice, the doomed wife of Orpheus who inspires his adventure into the underworld to save her. Written by Brooklyn-based playwright Sarah Ruhl in 2003, “Eurydice” focuses on her relationship with her dead father (a character invented by Ruhl) and her choice on whether to remain in the underworld or ascend with Orpheus back to the world of the living.
Details:
April 4-5, 10-12 (Box Office and lobby open at 6:30 p.m., theatre opens at 7 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m.), “Eurydice.”
Location: Sue Sellors Finley Theatre, Fine Arts Center, Del Mar College Heritage Campus, 101 Baldwin Blvd. (78404), get online directions and campus map.
Cost: $15 (general admission); $10 (seniors, military and DMC employees); and $5 for DMC students with a valid ID.
For more information, contact the Drama Office at 361-698-1216 or drama@delmar.edu. You can also visit Del Mar Drama’s theatre page at delmar.edu/theatre.
“Eurydice” is scheduled for a two-week run, April 4-5, 10-12, in the Sue Sellors Finley Theatre located in the Fine Arts Center on Del Mar College’s Heritage Campus.
At the opening night performance on April 4, there will be a cash bar as well as a post-production reception. Student Night, when any local student with a valid student ID gets in for free, is scheduled for Thursday, April 10. There will also be a post-production reception in the lobby. General Admission tickets are available every night.
“Eurydice” is suitable for all ages. Tickets are $15 for general admission; $10 for seniors, military and DMC employees; and $5 for DMC students with a valid ID. All shows start at 7:30 p.m. The Drama Box Office opens one hour before each performance and will sell in-person, day-of-show tickets. Advance tickets are online at https://delmardrama.ludus.com/. “Eurydice” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
Del Mar Drama’s production will have a unique visual presentation. The director, Pamela Pailes, was inspired by the illustrator Edward Gorey, who is known for his odd, macabre style set in the Victorian era. Expect to see high-necked dresses, three-piece suits, and even an actor in stilts.
"We hope the audience finds a deep resonance in this contemporary reinterpretation of the ancient myth," says Craig Brashears, Chair of the Department of Art and Drama at Del Mar College. "While our production boasts a highly stylized aesthetic, its themes of love and mourning remain deeply relatable."
The cast is Natalie Palacios, Grant Sykora, Samuel Howarth, Miguel Cerda, Ailenis Blanco, Elijah Calderon, Alexa DeLeon, Paul Farias, Rett Hobart, and Hannah Shell.