BWW Blog: Clarissa Moon - METAMORPHOSES at CFCArts Brings New Life to Old Myths 

When it comes to Greek mythology, I'm a total geek. I love the Percy Jackson series, and pour over those huge illustrated mythology books. Not only do I know major gods like Zeus and Aphrodite, but I can name all four gods of the wind and all of the rivers of the Underworld (NERD ALERT). So naturally, I was excited to see these myths come to life onstage at Central Florida Community Arts.

The play Metamorphoses tells the story of nine Greek myths, from well-known ones like King Midas to obscure ones like Pomona and Vertumnus.

The stage of CFCArts' production was a large swimming pool. It was multi-leveled, so actors could move from shallow to deeper waters depending on the setting of the story. The water brought the stories to life in a unique, breathtaking way. It emphasized the mood of each story and added drama to important moments. Sailors thrashed and fought in the water as they drowned in a battle against Poseidon. King Midas realized the horror of what he had done as water softly dripped. When Orpheus pleaded for Eurydice's life, water rained down around him, mirroring his sorrow.

The ensemble was tightly knit, working together as a Greek chorus to tell each story. They easily switched between narrating and portraying characters in the myths, remaining invested and lively throughout. It was obvious that the actors loved working together--they were very playful with each other.

Damani Harris gave a charming performance as Phaeton, the son of Apollo. He was honest, and easily gained the audience's sympathy. After all, Phaeton just wanted the keys to his dad's car (and by car, I mean the Sun). Is that so much to ask?

Jake Teixeira found the right balance between emotional honesty and the grand style of mythology as Orpheus. His monologue as he grieved over Eurydice in the Underworld was stunning. Your heart broke as he came so close to getting his wife back only to lose her for eternity.

If you love mythology or stories of any kind, I highly recommend this production. The awesome set and tight ensemble create a truly unique storytelling experience. Metamorphoses has one weekend left of performances, running through November 6th. For more information about tickets, go to cfcarts.com.

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