Join Cue Theatre on a trip to the underworld
On September 9 and 10, Cue Theatre will stage Sarah Ruhl’s “Eurydice” at the Western Province Aesthetic Resort (Open Air Amphitheatre) – a contemporary retelling of the famous love story of Orpheus and his beloved wife Eurydice – with a twist.
Founder of Cue Theatre Ranga Jayaratne directs this play first staged by American playwright Sarah Ruhl in 2003. The plot revolves around the voyage to the underworld by Orpheus, son of Apollo to rescue his love Eurydice. The well-known Greek myth is retold through the eyes of Eurydice.
Founder of Cue Theatre Ranga Jayaratne. Pic by Indika Handuwala
Cue Theatre’s first production took place in 2012 and the company has showcased its versatility with productions such as “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, “The Count of Monte Cristo” and American playwright Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” in 2015.
With 14 years of teaching Speech and Drama at The Wendy Whatmore Academy, Ranga describes her theatre company as “a safe environment for kids to come and express themselves.” Most practices at her home in Ratmalana are filled with laughter and music. The company’s name was coined by her students themselves, Ranga reveals, as the kids wanted to establish “Our cue to come back.” The production team Ranga happily notes is “a close knit family.”
Cue Theatre, has dipped into various production genres, largely due to the influences Ranga has had like Tracy Holsinger, who Ranga states “really opened my eyes to experimental theatre.”
So why “Eurydice”? Ranga shares that Sarah Ruhl’s production of the Greek myth is “unique”. The play explores the themes of love and loss – the fate of all the characters lies in the choices made by the female protagonist Eurydice. According to Ranga, Ruhl gives directors “room to experiment and be innovative” with the production.
The play is set in the 1940’s -50’s and starts with a proposal and ends with death (as seen in the original myth). The climax is when Eurydice is thrown into the spotlight as she is stuck in her choice of whether to stay in the underworld with her father, or to return to earth with Orpheus.
Enter Hades, God of the underworld, portrayed in certain parts of the play as “The Nasty Interesting Man”. Here he is a manipulator, deceiver and seducer tempting Eurydice. The play highlights Eurydice’s learning experiences touching on her maturity and personal growth.
The lovers – Orpheus and Eurydice – veiled by the illusion of love cannot see their incompatibility. “They’re completely off beat,” Ranga states.
The strong father-figure in the play is playwright Sarah Ruhl’s way of incorporating her own personal experiences into her production. Having lost her father to cancer Sarah Ruhl reconnects father and daughter in her play.
“Eurydice [the play] is strange” Ranga laughs. “It’s an intriguing production- I like its weirdness.” The use of natural elements from their outdoor venue along with modern language is what Ranga aspires to turn into a unique production for both her audience and theatre company members. “I’m hoping that the concept we’ve incorporated would work,” she says adding that the play is something she, the cast and crew are passionate and enthusiastic about. “If you’re passionate enough about something, someone else will feel it too,” she adds.
Ranga hopes audiences will enjoy a relaxed ambience to“sit and enjoy a nice evening of theatre.” The open venue will be scattered with bean bags, floor and chair seating where the audience members can even “snack while you watch.”
The cast includes Sarah Nimaladasa (Eurydice), Rishan Hannan (Orpheus), Kasun Liyanage (Hades), Lahiru Fernando (Eurydice’s unnamed dead father) Merisha Dias (“Little Stone”), Men-usha Hannan (“Big Stone”) and Jaan Fernando (“Loud Stone” )
“Eurydice” will take place on September 9 and 10 at 7.30 p.m. at the Western Province Aesthetic Resort ( open air amphitheatre). Tickets priced at Rs. 1000 can be purchased at the venue gate or contact 0779851153 or 0769867067 for more details.