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LYNNWOOD—The Meadowdale High School Drama Department returns next week with Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice, which reimagines Ovid’s classic Orpheus myth by retelling the Greek tragedy from the eyes of his titular bride.

In Greek mythology, Orpheus—a Thracian bard, musician and prophet—embarks on a quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece, at one point even entering the underworld to retrieve his lost wife Eurydice who died shortly after their wedding. In Sarah Ruhl’s 2003 retelling, however, the story is told from the eyes of Eurydice and her ultimate choice of whether to return with Orpheus to Earth or remain with her father (a character penned up by Ruhl) in the underworld.

Duhl’s Eurydice is Meadowdale High School Drama Instructor, and Director of the upcoming production, Jacqueline Meyners’ all-time favorite play, she informed the Lynnwood Times, so the production is one that is near and dear to her heart.

“[This play] showed me more of what theater can be and that it can be more than just a fun time but a beautiful living being. I’ve been waiting to direct it until I had the right group of kids that I knew could pull it off, and it’s been so much fun, and so fulfilling to go to rehearsal each day and be creative together,” said Meyners. “There was a high bar, it being my favorite play, but literally everyone in the cast has met this bar and exceeded my expectations.”

Those who follow Meadowdale’s performing arts productions might recognize the names of Lucy Knudson (who plays the lead of Eurydice and also worked as light designer) Tyler Pennington (who plays Eurydice’s father) and Seda San Nicolas (who plays the role of Orpheus and also worked as prop manager), from their most recent roles in Meadowdale’s production of the musical Mama Mia last May. All three of these actors were also on the bill for Meadowdale’s Newsies last year.

Cast members met every day after school for rehearsal beginning back in August. Knudson informed the Lynnwood Times that each rehearsal date was professional and productive since it was a small cast and each of its members, at this point, have had prior rehearsal experience.

San Nicolas added that there was a benefit to casting before summer, which allowed the cast to memorize their lines and figure out their characters over the break.

The character of Eurydice, from Knudson’s interpretation, is complex and one who wants things “much bigger than what she already has.”

“She’s smart, she likes to read, and she has big aspirations and struggles to balance that with what she’s given,” Knudson told the Lynnwood Times. “I relate to her and I think that’s really cool.”

Knudson, who also designed the lights for the production, continued that, as far as lighting goes, the non-conventional story telling of the play allowed for some creative ways to express the mood of the narrative through the art of lighting. The underworld scenes, for example, steer away from colors one might associate with hell – fiery colors such as reds, and yellows – adopting a more somber blues and greens to convey the theme of loneliness and isolation.

As Eurydice’s father, Tyler Pennington told the Lynnwood Times that his character is grounded and well-though-out, which is a character he has never tackled before in the roughly four years of him practicing theater arts.

“It’s nice to have a change of beat and dive deeper into my emotions,” Pennington told the Lynnwood Times.

Pennington continued that playwright Duhl added the character of Eurydice’s father to create a balance within Eurydice’s search to find a home and her introspective struggle to come to terms with who she truly belongs with.

When the play opens on November 14, Pennington said he’s most excited for the audience to see all of the “crazy plot twists,” and see their reaction to the impressive “tech aspects” which include an elevator with a thunderstorm inside and a floating room.

San Nicolas, who plays Eurydice’s lover Orpheus – who in classical retellings is the primary protagonist of the myth – informed the Lynnwood Times that she likes the more modern spin of the swapping perspectives.

“I think Orpheus is a really complex character to play because he doesn’t really mean to be bad, or have ill intent, but sometimes it comes out that way because he just has a really weird relationship with Eurydice,” said San Nicolas.

San Nicolas shared that it was a magical moment when all of the production’s complicated tech elements came together this week and truly painted the play’s ultimate feel and message. With all of these elements present, she added, it helped dive deeper into her character.

She added that playing a deeply emotional character can take its toll in your mental health if you’re not careful to separate yourself from the character, draw too deep from personal experience, or don’t practice necessary self-care to remain happy and healthy. It helps, she added, that her character is traditionally played by a made so it’s slightly easier to step outside of her character’s skin and return to reality.

Within opening night just one week away Pennington shared his excitement to finally see all of the cast’s hard work and diligence translate to the stage, and by extension, the audience’s reaction stating:

“I absolutely love playing with the emotions of the audience. It’s so fun and it’s so intriguing to see people’s opinions when they see how we did things, and we can see them respond to it. Seeing the reactions of an audience and to hear what they thought of it is so fulfilling and I just love portraying characters that make them feel, and care about a character that doesn’t exist,” said Pennington.

Knudson, on the other hand, said while opening night can be an exciting feeling closing night, ultimately, can be sad to know that “you’ve created this living, breathing, piece of art that you’ve poured your soul into, and you’ve bared it for the whole world to see, and it’s vulnerable. It takes quite a bit of intention to get up there and say this is what I’ve prepared for you. This is what I have to show for all of the time I’ve spent working. here it is, here is what I have, and thank you for coming,” said Knudson. “It’s vulnerable and it’s scary but it’s so fulfilling.”

San Nicolas agreed with her co-stars adding that it’s “reassuring” to her to make an audience feel other emotions other than laughter, which she’s well acquainted with coming from her previous role as Donna in Mama Mia.

Director Meyners, who considers herself a “huge feminist,” said Eurydice is an important story to tell because it’s important to tell a woman’s perspective. Additionally, she shared that the characters’ imperfections make the story feel more real and raw.

“It’s a really different piece of theater and I think that’s what theater should be. It should be innovative, and exciting,” said Meyners. “I don’t like to do traditional shows like comedies because I think theater can be so much more than that. This is a really great way to introduce an audience to something that’s different and a reason to leave the house for.”

The Meadowdale’s Drama Department’s production of Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice will have showings on November 14, 15, and 15 (with ASL interpretation offered on the 15 showing) beginning at 7 p.m. and doors at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students.

Tickets can be purchased at www.meadowdaledrama.wixsite.com/players

Author: Kienan Briscoe