On March 8, Delta College’s Drama Department will feature the production of “Eurydice” as part of a fundraiser celebrating Women’s History Month.
This production was written by Sarah Ruhl and directed by Ashlee Temple.
The story of “Eurydice” is based on the Greek myth of Orpheus, but Ruhl’s interpretation provides a “feminist perspective of a traditionally male focused myth,” according to Temple.
Orpheus, son of Oeagrus (King of Thrace) and the muse Calliope, was a musician.
Orpheus met Eurydice through the power of music and they fell in love.
They wed shortly after that, but then Eurydice stepped on a viper and died. Orpheus went to the underworld in an attempt to save Eurydice, but failed.
Ruhl explores the themes of the themes of grief, loss and love that she has experienced in her own life.
She lost her father to bone cancer when she was twenty and her words are infused with those feelings.
The reception and performance will be held March 8. The reception will be held first at 5:30 p.m. in the Horton Art Gallery and will be followed by the actual performance at 7 p.m. at the A.H Muller Studio Theatre.
“Production’s going really well…anybody who sees this play at the very end probably will cry,” said Charles Williams, the assistant director and social media coordinator. “The cast really has strong chemistry and work well together. They all are learning their characters now and they’re molding it even more, so by showtime they’ll be perfect.”
The origins of Women’s History Month date back to 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28, authorizing and requesting President Reagan to proclaim the week of March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.”
It wasn’t until 1987 when the entire month of March was proclaimed “Women’s History Month.”
During this month, there are many events throughout the nation paying tribute to women in history. Some of the events on campus include two more theatre productions and the publication of a new book.