Cyclops is the only satyr play by Euripides to come down to us though I guess whether it’s “complete” is a bit of an open question.  A satyr play was a kind of weird hybrid of comedy and tragedy that closed out the Festival of Dionysos after the tragedies had been performed.  Unlike most Athenian comedy it was usually based on mythological source material; in this case Odysseus’ encounter with the Cyclops from the Odyssey.  It would have featured principals and a chorus of satyrs; half man, half goat with enormous erect phalluses.

Panic Theatre’s production, brought to Toronto by Barrie’s Talk Is Free Theatre is an adaptation written and performed by Griffin Hewitt.  He (mostly) plays the satyr Silenus, in service to the Cyclops and narrates the events he may or may not have experienced as a sort of alcohol fuelled dream with considerable help from the audience who get roped in as Cyclops and Odysseus on occasions.  For something that’s ostensibly set in a karaoke bar and makes heavy use of pop musical material it manages to evoke the essentials of Athenian comedy remarkably well.

Passages of quite high flown monologue are coupled with fairly crude humour including a positive catalogue of dodgy double entendres.  There’s also a ton of homoeroticism.  Silenus has a huge crush on Odysseus and a questionable relationship with Cyclops; who is blinded with a massive bright pink dildo.  Silenus’ relationship with the sheep and goats he tends is also unclear.  It’s the classic, essentially untranslatable, Greek comic formula; high literature combined with the filthiest of filthy humour.  It’s hilarious and I’m sure Euripides would have pissed himself.  Hewitt’s highly kinetic acting is heavily supported by projections and lighting and original music by Juliette Jones.

It’s also incredibly intimate.  The space at the B Street Arts Hub seats maybe eighteen so nobody is more than a few feet from the performer and a pretty fair proportion get roped into doing stuff.  (Nothing too embarrassing… nobody has to use the giant pink dildo).  I have never experienced theatre quite like it.  It evokes both the Greek classics and a really bad frat party.  I kind of want to see it again after a few drinks.

Cyclops continues until April 4th.

Photo credit: Matthew Reid