Eve Miller
A masterclass in storytelling, Wright&Grainger’s Orpheus is joyful, moving, and fresh, tackling the ancient myth with gusto and a reverence that does not preclude reinvention.
It’s an old story – boy meets girl, they fall in love, girl dies, boy goes to the depths of hell to save her and succeeds, only to lose her again at the very last second. They bring the story to the present, having Orpheus (renamed Dave in this version) meet Eurydice at a karaoke bar while singing Springsteen’s Dancing in the Dark.
Alexander Wright is the storyteller – charismatic, dripping confidence but not a bit smug or arrogant, shares Dave’s story with us – and it truly does feel like a gift. Clive Grainger plays guitar and sings throughout, creating a rich sonic tapestry that reassures us, the heartbeat of the story, while reminding us of the inevitably tragic ending by repeating a beautifully moving refrain. Grainger not only creates the atmosphere with his guitar and song, but moves the plot along, singing as Dave when the plot requires, and leading the audience in a touching group-karaoke of Springsteen. They slip in and out of character with ease, laughing with the audience and at each other, taking breaks to recap the story and gauge the audience’s reaction, and yet remain entirely emotionally rooted in the story.
Wright&Grainger find wonderful theatricality in this story, despite the deceptive simplicity of their performance and design. They tell us that Dave lost his ability to see colour as he grew up and lost his childlike wonder and sense of self, regaining it only when he met Eurydice and fell in love. The colour seeping out of the world is also how he knows that she has died, and waits for him in Hades. This original detail endears Dave to us, and is heightened to great effect by the masterful lighting design. As Wright shares with the audience right at the start of the play, there are only two lighting cues. The first is a long (and I mean long) fade from a white wash to full colour, the whole of the Dissection Room becoming painted in reds, blues, greens, pinks, and yellows as Dave and Eurydice meet and fall in love, and she teaches him how to be himself again. The second cue is the reverse, once she dies. The bittersweet new ending to the myth that they share is touching and effective, adding a novel dimension that works in harmony with the original myth.
Unpretentious, charismatic, and truly artistic, Wright&Grainger’s stellar piece of gig theatre in Orpheus is a worthy entry in the canon of this foundational story of love and loss.
Recommended Drink: At least one Jaegerbomb to prepare for karaoke.
You can catch Orpheus at Dissection Room at Summerhall from 31st July to 7th August at 21:30 and 10th August at 17:00 (70 mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Jake Mace
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