An Odyssean Oratorio by Scott Fray
Thank you to everyone that came to our shows, especially those that braved the snowstorm. We do have HD video of the show and will be editing that into a single DVD sometime soon. Also, we are considering creating an audio CD of the show (if anyone would be interested). To be informed of these products, please email us at livingbrush@aol.com.
No further shows are planned at this time.
| 8pm, Thursday, January 28 admission $10 8pm, Saturday, January 30 followed by a tribal dance party featuring Ankataa admission $15 at the Broach Theatre 520 South Elm Street downtown Greensboro Questions about the show? Email us or call Scott Fray at 336-541-0630 |
music performed by
For information and bookings of Ankataa,
Contact Sandy Blocker by email or phone at 336-340-3082
A part of the Greensboro Fringe Festival
About the Show
Based on Homer's Odyssey, "Song of the Sirens" was composed and written in August/September 2009 by local artist Scott Fray. Music will be performed by Ankataa under the direction of Sandy Blocker. This is the world premier of this production.
So what is it going to sound like?
Soaring, layered female vocals with deep, driving drums. World-beat flavors in the music; mysterious, ancient, earthy sounds.
What's the Story?
The show opens with the goddess Athene (Tita Wofford) singing a song invoking the complex internal forces that motivate Odysseus, whom she favors above all humans. These are represented by the Greek words "kairé" (activate, engage), "metis" (strength of character, resourcefulness"), "kleos" (everlasting fame), and "noos" (the yearning for home). Odysseus (Mack McClain) then recounts his adventures of his "great wanderings". The first of these is "Aeolian Winds", (featuring Madelyn Greco), recalling the story of how he was given a bag containing all the winds of the world, allowing him safe passage to his island home of Ithaca. He was undone by his sailors, however, who let loose the winds, driving him back out to sea. In the next number, we encounters the rugged island home of the Cyclopes, evoked in our production with driving, tribal drums and dance (featuring Ashanti Jennings).
Penelope (Amber Marlowe), Odysseus' faithful wife, then emerges to sing a sweet lamentation of tearful longing. She has staved off suitors and contenders to his throne and kept the home fires burning for twenty long years while Odysseus has been away fighting the Trojan war. She has no way of knowing what has befallen him, or even whether he is alive or dead. Meanwhile, Odysseus is tempted by the beautiful goddess Circe (Jenn Martin), who desires to snare him with her enchantments, and the immortal sea nymph Calypso (Karon Click), who promises to make him a god if he should choose to stay with her. Despite his desire to return home to Penelope, Odysseus feels his resolve slipping, yet resists and seeks counsel from the blind prophet Tieresias (Stuart Stanley), who must now be summoned from the land of the dead. Tieresias warns him about his upcoming passage past the island of the Sirens, whose song is so enchanting as to drive sailors to their deaths upon hearing it. Odysseus ties himself to the mast of his ship in an attempt to endure their song, and is nearly brought to the point of madness and death. But at the moment of his greatest tribulation and despair, it is Athene's intervention that shines clear through the storm bringing him hope and solace in the sweet remembrance of his long-anticipated homecoming.
Chapters
1. Athene's Proemion: Metis
2. Odysseus, a Man of Many Ways
3. Aeolian Winds
4. Into the Eye of the Cyclopes
5. Penelope's Lament
6. Circe and Calypso
7. Lotus Blossum
8. Nequia part one: Ritual to Summon the Dead
9. Nekyia part two: The Blind Prophet's Warning
10. Song of the Sirens
11. A Homecoming of the Heart
Cast
Mack McClain, "Odysseus"
Tita Wofford, "Athene"
Jenn Martin, "Circe"
Karon Click, "Calypso"
Amber Marlowe, "Penelope"
Stuart Stanley, "Tieresias"
Paden Hale, "Siren"
Heather Meek, "Siren"
Seraphia Shore, "Siren"
Madelyn Greco, dancer "The Wind"
Ashanti Jennings, dancer "Cyclopes"
Angela Greene, dancer "Lotus"
Ankataa
Sandy Blocker, Music Director - drums, percussion
Lucas Ray - classical guitar, electric guitar, electric bass, percussion
Guhl Mustafa - oud, electric guitar, electric bass, percussion
David Mitchell - drums, percussion
also featuring Scott Carpenter - keyboards
Debbie Griffin, Stage Manager, costumes
Madelyn Greco, Costume Director
Faun Finley, Choreographic Director
John Dalton, Stage Technician, "Sailor"
Kelly Setliff, Stage Technician, "Sailor"
Kane Kruegar, Stage Technician
Bonnie Stanley, Photographer
Sue Sassman, Promotions/costuming
Scott Fray, Producer/director
Danielle Cowser-Horsley, house manager
Special Thanks
To Joe Wrobel, Jerry Stafford, Adrienne Cregar-Jandler, Unity of Greensboro, Aubrey Simpson, and so many more