“METAMORPHOSES:” MAKING A SPLASH IN WEST HARTFORD

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                               Photo by Rich Wagner of "Metamorphoses"
As ambitious projects go, West Hartford’s Playhouse on Park hasset the theatrical bar 
quite high and then proceeded to soar over it.  The theater has built a grand pool ofwater 
on stage in which to dip your toes or plunge in fully clothed as it tellsthe fascinating tales of 
“Metamorphoses,” myths of Greek and Roman origins asoriginally penned by Ovid in 8 
A.D. and adapted in 1996 by Mary Zimmerman.

Until Sunday, July 1, you are invited to experience a series ofvignettes about the gods and 
mortals who sought immortality and love, who feltgreed and lust, who gave in to 
temptations and wanderlust as a cast of tentalented actors – Amelia Randolph Campbell, 
David Nate Goldman, HarrisonGreene, Melissa Kaufman, Troy Peckham, Jillian Rorrer, 
Justin Sease, QuinnWarren, Eric Whitten and Ashley C. Williams-splash, float and come 
close todrowning in the shimmering waters as they retell ancient tales relevant totoday’s 
world.             The gods in all their power and frailty come to earth in a seriesof stories that will provoke and tease, stimulate and sadden, inspire andeducate.  You’ll remember KingMidas and his prized treasury of wealth, the classic workaholic 24/7, who whenoffered a boon from the gods chooses a golden touch.  His heart’s desire proves particularly painful when hetouches his beloved daughter and turns her into a pure and precious metal.            Thepool turns tempestuous for King Ceyx who leaves his bride Alcyone to go off tosea only to be killed in a storm. But her love and devotion persuade the gods to let Iris the rainbowgoddess transform the tragic pair into birds who will forever fly the heavens.            Othertales involve Phaeton who demands of Apollo, his father, the keys to hischariot so he can race across the sky, a story he relates to his therapist whenhe almost destroys the earth by flying too close to the sun, of Cupid with hisblinded eyes and his search for true love, and of gods who punish Erysichthonby sending him Hunger so no amount of food satisfies his craving fornourishment, after he cuts down a tree sacred to Ceres, the goddess of theharvest.        Mourn with Orpheus wholoses his bride Eurydice on their wedding day and travels to the Underworld toreclaim her, only to lose her not once more, but twice.  Enjoy the many disguises that Vertumnusassumes in his wooing of the nymph Pomona and how he eventually wins her loveby being himself.  Within thisstory is the tragic tale of Myrrha who is cursed to love her own father in anunnatural way and is punished by melting away in a pool of water, dissolvinglike her tears.
Sean Harris directs a talented troupe who are almost all makingtheir Playhouse on Park debuts in this imaginative work that spans centurieswith its universal themes of love, life, greed, loss, and all their wisdoms andwarnings.Original music is composed and played by Richard Hollman.            For tickets ($22.50-32.50) call Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Road,West Hartford at 860-523-5900, ext. 10 or online at www.playhouseonpark.org.  Performances are Wednesday and Thursdayat 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.            Diveinto this transforming pool where Mary Zimmerman plays lifeguard and the godPoseidon reigns supreme.  There’sno need to bring towels or shower caps.