Written by Alina Mae Wilson

The vicious tales of human error has been told in many different ways. Some of the most popular stories are those of Greek mythology, and for good reason. The supernatural abilities possessed by the featured individuals coupled with commentary on the moral viewpoints of the time have fascinated people of all ages. Some of these stories are retold in the form of vignettes in UC Irvine’s play Metamorphoses.

Metamorphoses is told in various short stories instead of a long story with a linear plot, it should not come as a surprise that some stories are simply more interesting than others. The story of Cyex and Alcyone, for instance, is long (in comparison to the other events featured in the play) and deals with sorrow, but since a great majority of the plot consists of nothing more than a woman crying for her lost love interest, the audience is not quite invested. Some of the other stories are much more intriguing and/or entertaining, but the lack of connection between each of the stories cannot be ignored. Some of them (King Midas) seem to take place in a more contemporary setting while still others (Erysichthon) take place in the past. Just when the viewer feels that some sort of consistent message might be breaking through, such as the transformative nature of death and love, the audience is introduced to Phaeton, who does not seem to have any sort of connection with those ideas, and thus breaks the suggestion that there is any sort of true meaning in the plot(s). If there is some kind of message. It would have to be that change is inevitable but it’s a flimsy connection at best.

The acting is fine and the set is very well done. The blue coloring and the glassy set give a dreamy mediterranean feel to the whole experience. While the play isn’t riveting, the acting and the feel of the atmosphere hold the play afloat.

7/10

Date & Location :

Nov. 15 – 23

UCI Claire Trevor Theatre

Irvine, CA 92697

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