Orphée at Odyssey Theatre

Orpheus, Eurydice, a trouble-making horse and Death herself converge in this very funny and irreverent reimagining of the Greek myth by surrealist poet, playwright and filmmaker Jean Cocteau. A celebrated poet with writers block, Orpheus sequesters himself in the countryside with his wife Eurydice, where he seeks inspiration. Deaf West Theatre views Cocteaus whimsical, magical and highly visual French play, first performed in Paris in 1926, through a unique lens: translated from the French into Spoken English and American Sign Language, and slated for a run at the True Colors Festival in Tokyo, Japan at the end of April. Described by Cocteau as part farce, part meditation on death, the playwright continued to explore the same themes throughout his ensuing career, culminating with his seminal Orphic Trilogy of films: Le Sang d'un Poete, Orphe and Le Testament d'Orphee. Four ASL Nights are set for Thursday, March 19; Friday, March 20; Thursday, March 26; and Friday, March 27: arrive at 7:30 p.m. for a 15-minute ASL workshop that teaches signs used in the play. Deaf West Theatre in a visiting production at the Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West Los Angeles, 90025; March 13-April 5; $35-$50; (818) 762-2998 or www.deafwest.org