Students at Peetz School were treated to a unique theatrical take on Homer’s “The Odyssey” Friday. University of Colorado – Boulder’s 2017 Graduates Outreach Tour, a program through the school’s theatre and dance department, visited the school to present “The Odyssey Remixed.”
Actors in the performance included Kelsey Kinzer, who is working a Master of Arts degree in theatre and a master’s in business administration; Danielle Garrison, who is seeking a master’s degree in fine arts and dance; and Adam Lauver, who is working on a doctorate degree in communication.
The student actors started working on the theatrical production in January. They were responsible for coming up with lines for the play and then rehearsing and performing it.
“So, very much our own take on things,” said Garrison.
The ancient Greek poem tells the story of the Greek hero Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his journey home, to his wife Penelope and son Telemachus, after the fall of Troy.
In the CU students’ version, the cast starts off talking about wanting to perform “The Odyssey,” but the idea is quickly shut down by Kinzer’s character, who says the story already has been told numerous times and is offensive. “It’s totally unfair portrayal of women. Odysseus doesn’t trust Penelope at all, but he’s afraid she’s the one who might be unfaithful? It’s hogwash, total hogwash,” she said.
So, the actors come up with an idea to swap genders in order to highlight the gender inequity in the original story. Instead of Odysseus going on the great adventure, it’s Oydsa, played by Kinzer, who is trying to find her way home to her husband, Penn, played by Lauver; and daughter, Tele, played by Garrison.
The performance follows the story line of the poem, with Odysa tempted by a leather bag containing all the winds and Calypso. But there are also new obstacles, including an island of tempting cats and an island of hallucinogenic plants, which taught students an important lesson about not doing drugs.
In the end, Oydsa makes it home to her daughter, Tele, and husband Penn, who after recognizing her, in a scene reminiscent of “The Bachelor” television show, gives her his final rose.
At the end of the performance, the actors each shared what they learned.
“I learned with a little empathy, compassion and open mindedness we can better understand somebody else’s viewpoints and I think the show was even better than it had ever been before,” Garrison said.
“I learned as an adventuring hero, adventuring is really fun, but I love being with family, so why can’t Oydsa have both? Maybe next time she can take Penn and Tele on an adventure with her,” Kinzer added.
Lauver told the students that their job “is to dismantle the patriarchy.”
During a question and answer period following the performance, actors shared tips with Peetz School students for their upcoming theatre production and encouraged them to go for their dreams. Also, students who wanted to were able to participate in a workshop with the actors, where they learned about the craft of acting.
Callie Jones: 970-526-9286, cjones@journal-advocate.com
