…and not in a good way…

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.

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Tales of an Urban Indian

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Barrie’s Talk is Free Theatre so I was very happy to be able to catch one of their shows on tour in Toronto.  The show is Tales of an Urban Indian and it’s playing in the basement of Hope United Church on the Danforth.  I think the show originally toured on a converted bus which would explain the set up; which is a narrow space with a row of chairs either side (actually two rows on one side) so the space seats about thirty five.  It’s been around since 2009 and has toured across Canada, the US and overseas nad, despite the things that have happened on the “Reconciliation” agenda since then it still feels fresh and timely.

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