Is it easy to be all-powerful and omnipotent? Gods, like parents, believe they can control everything. But at some point, the power will shift. Will the results be a catastrophe?
Mythic is a wildly entertaining and funny musical on the Greek gods and their antics. Full of energy, delightful performances, and good songs, this is a big show that delivers a fun ride.
Mythic is a contemporary rendition of the story of the goddess Persephone and how she was tricked to spend eternity in the land of the dead as the wife of Hades. In this version, the story is framed around the adolescent children of the main gods (Zeus, Demeter) and their youthful rebellions, much to the consternation of their parents. Ironically, the gods had engaged in murderous revolt against their own parents, the Titans. Now, the children of Zeus (the magnetic Aadin Church) and Demeter (Heather McGuigan, excellent) are coming of age and they are wary of the paths they will take. It is a story of young love, family tensions, and personal power.
Demeter is the Goddess of the Harvest and she oversees the fruit of the land. She tries to impart to her vivacious daughter Persephone (the terrific Julia McLellan) the importance of this role. But Persephone is not interested and wants to be part of the “in crowd” with the gods of Olympus. She sneaks off to go to a wild party on the Acropolis. There, she meets Hades (James Daly, who strikes the right mood), a sullen bad-boy type. The Goddess of Love, Aphrodite (the hilarious Jessica Gallant), makes the pair fall for each other. Before anyone can realize it, the young lovers are in Hades’ home, the underworld. But Persephone cannot leave. She is caught amongst the horrors of the dead. So, she tries to transform the underworld from a place of suffering into a land of new life. In the meantime, Demeter searches frantically for her missing child and tears the world apart in the process.
The gods are selfish, vain, and inconstant. Egotistical Zeus is afraid of losing his control over the gods and the world. Aphrodite is self-absorbed, flakey, and completely endearing. Demeter is the loving but controlling mother. Persephone is the smart but naïve girl who wants to make the world a better place. Hades is torn between what he believes is right and wrong and his job as the King of Hell. The whole calamity becomes very funny and very sweet.
The fantastic cast is superbly supported by the talented Greek Chorus. The music is bright and lively. The lyrics find the ridiculous in the travails of immortal life and the grace in the love between parent and child. While the costumes are modern, they serve the characters’ personalities perfectly. The choreography is spirited and complements the action. The pacing of the show is smooth and brisk. There is no sense of time going by.
While our parents may drive us to distraction, be grateful they are mortal. The gods are crazy!
Photo credit: Leslie Schachter
Mythic. Directed by Brian Hill. Show continues until November 24, at Segal Centre, 5170 Chemin de la Côte-Ste-Catherine, Montreal. Call the box office 514-739-7944 or go to www.segalcentre.org
