Have you ever had that dream where you find yourself at the bottom of an empty swimming pool, waiting around with three other desperate, mercurial suitors for your fate to be decided upon by an Odyssean siren?
Enda Walsh did and, fortunately for us, the Irish playwright turned it in to Penelope, an award-winning play directed by Alister Smith that has travelled the world to end up at St.Kilda's Theatre Works, as performed by Red Stitch Theatre.
Penelope is, at first glance, a tragic tale of the last four remaining courters destined to perish at the hands of Penelope’s husband, Odysseus, upon his return from the Trojan War. In Smith’s experienced hand the play becomes a storm of words, giving the audience flashes of comedy, drama, philosophy, CCTV and even speedos, while exploring the still acutely pertinent facets of the male ego.
Winner of the 2010 Edinburgh Festival Fringe First award, Penelope runs until April 13th.
Image via showsforschools.com.au