Wright&Grainger's Eurydice - 10 out of 10
The Mortlock Library at The Courtyard of Curiosities at the State Library
TICKETS: Wright&Grainger's EURYDICE
If Orpheus is the soul of this cycle, Eurydice is its beating, modern heart. Returning to the Mortlock Library after sunset, the space is transformed; the runway stage now holds a MIDI pad and extra microphones – tools for a story that demands to be heard, not just told.
Premiered at the Adelaide Fringe in 2019, Megan Shandley joins the production this year and delivers Alex Wright’s words with skill, sensitivity, and above all, power as she and Phil Grainger retell Wright&Grainger’s retelling of Orpheus from the perspective of Eurydice, or Leni as she chooses to go by.
Bringing in the oft-forgotten character of Aristaeus (or ‘Ary), the Greek god of beekeeping, we learn of Leni’s desire to circumvent her foretold future of falling for a man with a lyre before being condemned to the underworld. Making the all-too-human mistake of being young and in love, Leni has her heart broken by ‘Ary and learns that endings can be counted too. I won’t spoil the rest of the show for you as Leni continues to prevent the future that’s been foretold, but maybe you’ll be lucky and get to share a whiskey with Leni.
Meg’s delivery and characterisation of Leni are deeply moving. Every word she says with her Scottish accent is clear to the ear and full of meaning. And she can sing too! Her vocals are strong and supported throughout and have a power and yearning behind them that leave you wanting more.
Phil Grainger wrote the music for Eurydice and performs again. His voice blends sublimely with Meg’s. That MIDI pad I mentioned at the start? In Phil’s hands, it becomes a supporting character to the story. Driving, urgent beats and chords underscore Meg’s powerful delivery. And the string quartet returns again, elevating the soundscape to that of a dance club for the gods.
Benefiting from being staged after sunset, the lighting design hits with impact right from the start. It’s amazing what a skilled lighting designer can do with a couple handfuls of lights in an interesting and novel space.
As I mentioned, I saw Eurydice’s sister show Orpheus earlier the same evening. These shows are designed as mirrors. Watch Orpheus to feel the weight of the myth, then stay for Eurydice to see it shattered. I truly hope Wright & Grainger continue to stage these two works together as a cycle. Be sure to check out my review of Wright&Grainger’s Orpheus and then get tickets to both!
Alex Wright and Phil Grainger, with Serena Manteghi and Casey Jay Andrews, have created a truly novel retelling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. They gave Eurydice her agency in the most humanly way possible and have taken a myth many will be familiar with to a truly mythic status.
Their standing ovation at the end was well deserved.
–Scott
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