The Nebraska Repertory Theatre opens their season with “Eurydice,” a poetic reimagining of the Orpheus myth by Sarah Ruhl and directed by Associate Professor of Theatre David Long.
Performances are Oct. 2-12 in the Studio Theatre, located on the first floor of the Temple Building at 12th and R streets on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln campus. For showtimes and ticket information, visit https://nebraskarep.org.
“Eurydice is about love, connection and memory,” said senior acting major Luka Benjamin. “These themes are told through Eurydice’s relationship with Orpheus, her father, and her journey of reclaiming her memory in the underworld.”
Benjamin, who is from Superior, Nebraska, plays Big Stone in the play.
“Big Stone is one of the three stones that enforce the rules of the underworld,” he said. “He likes the idea of protecting his fellow stones and living up to his namesake, but he’s neither brave, nor smart. Big Stone is very fun to play—being nonhuman. I, as an actor, get to play something abstract and use skills I don’t always get to showcase.”
Danielle Stolze, a senior acting major from Omaha, Nebraska, plays the title role of Eurydice.
“Eurydice is an excitable young woman, newly in love,” she said. “She is not naïve to the world but is still hopeful for a fairytale life. She is a person at their base self—hopeful and afraid, loving and losing, connecting deeply and constantly miscommunicating.”
Stolze said playing her is both exhausting and rewarding.
“This character challenges me in a way I’ve not experienced before,” she said. “Her life experiences are similar to mine, and she reminds me so much of myself, so it’s a challenge to carve her out as separate from me. Eurydice is constantly confusing me, because she reacts in a way I often don’t, but it’s so rewarding to feel we’re honoring the story being told.”
Paige Fritz, a senior acting major from Papillion, Nebraska, plays Loud Stone.
“Playing Loud Stone is a unique challenge,” she said. “The stones are not human and have never been human. Therefore, the three of us had to create an entirely new form of being with their own unique personalities. Personally, Loud Stone constantly feels like she needs to prove. She is military general-esque. Throughout the script, she seems to one up her counterparts and take control. She is also very protective of her fellow stones. She is incredibly aware of what punishment could arise from Eurydice and her father’s relationship and will do anything to control and solve the issue at hand.”
Stolze praised playwright Sarah Ruhl for her hopeful take on the classic Orpheus myth.
“I love Sarah Ruhl’s decision to present as much hope as possible in this play,” she said. “The characters are never satisfied, always hoping and working for something better. I feel other Eurydices come off cynical to the world, but not Sarah Ruhl’s. This play is unique in that it focuses on Eurydice’s journey through the story of the Orpheus myth, instead of his.”
Fritz said, “I love that this play adaptation still incorporates beautiful music without needing to be a musical. What I like the most about this adaptation is the relationship in the center of it—Eurydice and her father. I absolutely love my dad and watching those scenes makes me tear up so often. It is so incredibly heartfelt.”
Benjamin said the language used in this play is both strange and beautiful.
“Every character is speaking poetically, with metaphors galore,” he said. “It’s such fun as an actor to have beautiful language, which we then get to color with all our character’s intentions, obstacles and circumstances. It’s also beautiful to see Eurydice’s side of the myth. Seeing her journey of remembering her life and re-learning where she comes from makes the lovers’ fates all the more wrenching.”
Fritz said the audience should be prepared for a heartfelt journey.
“Audiences should expect to be moved and to leave so incredibly sad. Sorry, audience, it’s just gonna happen,” she said. “They should attend because the story has the ability to ground anyone and make them feel the deepest heartstrings of life.”
Stolze said while each audience member may take away something different, the story always circles back to love and personal connection.
“Each person I’ve met takes something different from this production, but it’s always about love,” she said. “I say audiences should expect a connection that feels like home. We’ll take you on a journey, and by the end someone will remind you of a loved one, maybe one you haven’t thought of in a while.”
Benjamin has enjoyed working with Long.
“I’m a huge fan of his directing style,” Benjamin said. “He brings a plan for us to follow, but gives his actors all the room to comment, change and collaborate on what suits the show best. It helps me feel like I have had a real hand in the creation of the show, and I’m very grateful for his directorship.”
Described as an emotional rollercoaster packed into under 90 minutes, the show promises to leave audiences deeply moved.
“Audiences can expect a beautiful love tragedy that will make you feel like hugging your loved ones a little tighter,” Benjamin said. “There is so much to feel in this show—smiles, laughs, tears—all in less than 90 minutes. It’s a lovely, lovely whirlwind.”
