Review: (Toronto) The Penelopiad

Megan Follows (photo credit: John Lauener)

Beyond Homer
by Beat Rice

I first want to state that I never saw the original Nightwood Theatre production of Margaret Atwood's  The Penelopaid or knew anything of what it was about. Last night at Buddies I watched without any preconceived notion other than, “well this better be good if people feel like it needs to be remounted”. Well, I was correct in that presumption. Margaret Atwood’s adaptation of her novella passed into the hands of a team of 26 women, make for an unforgettable piece of theatre.

Kelly Thornton stages the play brilliantly, using every inch of the space and incorporating choreography and physicalization of objects with the ensemble.

The Penelopaid, loosely based on what is found in The Odyssey, tells the story of Penelope of Sparta, the young wife of Odysseus of Ithaca. Atwood has expanded on the event of the hanging of Penelope’s 12 maids, which was given a mere mention in the ancient text. She has written the play in a modern vernacular that is engaging and easy to listen to. Kelly Thornton stages the play brilliantly, using every inch of the space and incorporating choreography and physicalization of objects with the ensemble. The absurdity of the scenes sets the tone for the first half of the play, but things take a turn in the second act. Horrifying events are staged in the same exaggerated physicality are intensely disturbing. The staging works swimmingly with the design elements. Stunning images are created by use of backlight and sidelight; platforms and stair units transform into bedrooms, ships, and dining rooms; and costumes Kudos to lighting designer Kimberly Purtell, Set Designer and Costume Designer Denyse Karn and Sound Designer Suba Sankaran.

Megan Follows plays Penelope, and tells her life story with grace, humour, passion, and honesty. Her performance is one of the strongest I have seen; we are convinced even before the end of act one, that her story is one that needs to be told. The most powerful aspect of the production is the ensemble. There is something so visceral about 12 women chanting in unison, singing in harmony and weaving in and out of each other on stage. 

So yes, the production has been remounted for several reasons. It is a huge accomplishment that shines light on some of the most talented female theatre artists in Canada.

The Penelopiad runs until February 8th
Read also: Kelly Thornton's first-person piece on her approach to the first production