Theater Reviews

May 3, 2009 - The Nevada Repertory Company's pleasant presentation of Mary Zimmerman's "Metamorphoses"

By By jack Neal

It’s unique to have an important play receive two productions within months of each other in major metropolitan areas. It’s even more unique to have two resident companies do the same play in a city the size of Reno, Nevada.

Mary Zimmerman’s “Metamorphoses,” with water, was presented by Reno’s Bruka Theatre last November. Currently “Metamorphoses” is being presented in a short run by the Nevada Repertory Company, sans water (April 24-May 3, 2009).

Richard Wagner’s epic “Ring Cycle” is about a flawed world redeemed by love. Ovid, a Roman poet writing about the time Christianity was being conceived, based his “Metamorphoses” on the idea that love only sometimes conquers all. Mary Zimmerman’s updated “Metamorphoses” concludes that “Wherever our love goes, there we find our soul.”

Zimmerman’s “Metamorphoses,” now being presented by the Nevada Repertory Company at Reno’s Redfield Studio Theatre, is a fascinating blend of the very old with the revelatory new. In the ten myths Zimmerman selects to spin her tale of transformed souls, sorrow is the music that makes her stories of lost love, sometimes regained, dance.

Credit Freud and Jung for episodes dragging psychology into these classic myths. Credit playwright Zimmerman for her adroit mix of poignancy and humor. None of the stories have completely happy endings. What they have is an excellent script, tight direction by Jim Bernardi, and a relatively good cast working overtime to bring these interesting ancient and new myths to life.

The scenic centerpiece for the play has always been a reasonably large pool, around and in which the action takes place. Kevin Craik’s set design evokes the primordial aspects about which the play revolves without actually buying into the kind of biblical dunking John the Baptist found expedient in another set of myths. (There's no water.) Unfortunately, even though the play covers a span of centuries - Saon Okamoto’s costumes provide the production with more of a hodgepodge of looks rather than attractive designs that might adapt well to a multitude of situations.

Although overall the sum of the play’s parts add up to a respectful presentation that has impact, the cast of students is little more than adequate, which translates into a relatively lightweight presentation.

Standouts are Michael Tunseth as Phaeton, the son of the Sun, who is under psychiatric care for having an overachieving parent; and therapist Summer E. Cruz who knows what questions to ask Phaeton and delivers them with adroit timing. One hesitates not to mention Lucas Peterson as Eros the Greek God of Love and Passion for having the courage, and the good looks, to appear in the totally altogether. Decades ago when movie star Barbara Stanwyck was kept waiting on the set by an unforgivably tardy, but nonetheless gorgeous young starlet, Miss Stanwyck (upon the starlet’s arrival) couldn’t resist: “I guess when you look like that, you can keep people waiting.” For voyeurs, and others, Mr. Peterson’s arrival on the set is worth waiting for.

The Nevada Repertory Company’s presentation of “Metamorphoses” can be seen at the Redfield Studio Theatre, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada, April 24, 25, 29 (the performance reviewed), 30, May 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m., and May 3 (2009) at 1:30 p.m. For information call 775-784-4278.