Eurydice
at Coral Glades High School

Reviewed on February 28, 2019

Alonso Millan
South Plantation High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Would you give up everything you have to be with the one you love the most? This is the question that Coral Glades High School asks in an emotional and powerful production of Eurydice.

Eurydice is based on the Ancient Greek tragedy of Orpheus. Told through Eurydice's eyes, the show is a heartbreaking story of a pair of star crossed lovers and the challenges they face. Adding the character of Her Father and Eurydice's conflict of choosing between the underworld with him and the world of the living with Orpheus, Sarah Ruhl's adaptation of the Greek myth was written in 2003. The show made its Off-Broadway debut in 2007, becoming a popular production since.

Coral Glades High School's production of Eurydice is a wonderful student directed effort. Dailyn Robaina's direction captures the raw emotion in the play. Strong performances overall from the cast were one of the best parts of the show, though at times some cast members suffered from poor diction. The stunning technical aspects of the show, markedly impressive given the production's outdoor setting, greatly contributed to the experience of the show as well.

In her portrayal of the titular character, Jerwayne Graham is exuberant throughout the entire piece. Graham's brilliant and mature depiction of Eurydice never falters, delivering a great performance. One particular highlight was Graham's final monologue, where even through choked sobs her commitment to the character and striking emotional depth were ever present. Joshua Flynn's portrayal of Orpheus must also be commended. Flynn displays strong characterization, and the two have clear chemistry throughout the piece.

The supporting cast in the show cannot be overlooked. As Her Father, Derek Sands gives an admirable performance. Throughout the show, Sands interacts very well with Graham, truly creating the connection that a father and daughter share. Felipe Gonzalez as Lord of the Underworld must also be commended for his performance. At times a bumbling toddler flirting with Eurydice, and at others a man longing for her love, Gonzalez expertly switches back and forth between these two distinct characters.

The technical aspects of the show were very strong. The show is unique in its outdoor setting, making some of these achievements all the more impressive. The sound by Juliette BeJune and Dailyn Robaina was extremely well done. Despite a few issues with microphones at times, the sound was heard clearly throughout the entire night, even despite the challenges that the outside setting might have brought up. The special effects by Dailyn Robaina and Vanessa West were one of the high points of the show. Used only when necessary for the fullest effect, the elevator and rain were special and innovative additions to the show.

Coral Glades High School's production of Eurydice was a wonderful night full of both joy and sadness, and most certainly a night to remember.

Mars Sookhansingh
South Plantation High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Portraying the tragic story of love and longing, Coral Glades High School's production of "Eurydice" gives a whole new meaning to a simple dip in the river.

Debuting in 2003 at Madison Repertory Theatre, Sarah Ruhl's adaption of the Greek myth of Orpheus was rehashed from the perspective of his wife Eurydice. Detailing the difficult journey of Eurydice as she decides between following her father or her husband, this specific retelling would take many creative liberties in reference to the original tale. Since the plays opening, it has opened Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre as well as within numerous high schools and universities.

Led by the charismatic Jerwayne Graham as Eurydice, the frequent trials our main character must combat are always incredibly immersive. From pure innocence upon arriving in an unfamiliar world, to intense anguish at facing her fathers second passing, Graham's embodiment of the character is consistently natural. This impressive feat was very much supported by her characters husband, Orpheus (Joshua Flynn). Although Flynn's performance is just as believable, the scenes including interactions between the two were undoubtedly the best within the show, most notably within the opening scene that showcased the incredible comfortability and commitment each actor had to their character.

With the production having a rather small cast, the most prominent ensemble was composed of three overseers of the underworld, or the "Three Stones." With each individual stone having a prominent distinguishing attribute, the actors Lindsey Beyda, Julyette Vargas, and Hayley Hunt as the Big, Little, and Loud Stone, respectively, very accurately represented each of these features. Though much of their simultaneous dialogue was very impactful, the choreographed movements not being executed on time unfortunately made this less dramatic.

Most definitely aiding in the overall atmosphere was the outside showing. The microphones and sound design was brilliantly done, with each actor never once being impeded upon by the distractions of the outdoors. Although the lack of adequate lighting sometimes masked the expressions of the characters, the overall excellence in everything from the complex special effects to the simplistic set overpowered this. In addition, the handmade costumes and makeup effects all enveloped the production in a sense of professionalism.

From exemplifying the realities of familial loss and the ensuing afterlife, Coral Glades High Schools production of "Eurydice" wonderfully adapted this classic myth to something superbly unique.

Annie Sudler
Calvary Christian Academy
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

If love is stronger than death, should we defy death in the name of love? This is the central question of the timeless play Eurydice. Though that's a lot to wrap your head around, Coral Glades High School's students professionally answered that question in their recent production of Eurydice.

The 2003 Sarah Ruhl play is based on the Greek myth of Orpheus. In the story, Orpheus, the world's greatest musician, sees his wife killed on their wedding day and goes on a journey to the Underworld to get her back. Hades lets her go under one condition- as Orpheus returns with his wife in tow, he cannot turn around and look at her. Sadly, he looks, and condemns her to the Underworld for all eternity. The play features some changes to the original story. The story is centered around Eurydice rather than Orpheus and includes a new character, Eurydice's Father, who helps drive the story. The show also includes Eurydice calling out to Orpheus, causing him to turn around, adding some dramatic conflict not previously seen.

Though the material in the play is very difficult to work with, the students did an amazing job with it. Eurydice (Jerwayne Graham) was a powerful actress. She commanded the stage with a control that seemed as natural as breathing and did a great job of showing all the sides of her character. Orpheus (Joshua Flynn) also had a strong performance. He was able to show emotions that might be foreign to many young actors with a very realistic touch that breathed life into his character. Her Father (Derek Sands) did a great job of showing paternal love and affection, equally amazing given the age of the actor. The small Greek chorus made up of Big Stone, Little Stone and Loud Stone (Lindsey Beyda, Julyette Vargas, and Hayley Hunt, respectively) gave the show energy and drive by showing the Underworld's status quo with their sharp movements and dialogue. Finally, the Lord of the Underworld (Felipe Gonzalez) rounded off the small cast with his two-faced character. His hilarious moments as the young child perfectly contrasted with the severe and scary scenes spent as the grown Lord of the Underworld. Though no one was exempt from volume and articulation issues, especially in the many sob-laden soliloquies, the cast did amazingly as a whole.

A difficult show to stage, the bar was raised even higher by a jaw-dropping detail- the entire show was done outside. Braving the issues of technology outdoors, nearby noises, and limited staging options- not to mention South Florida weather- the immersion that this provided was spectacular. The set, though relatively minimal, featured running water and moving elevator doors that excelled at setting the scene. The props and costumes, done by Zoe Johnson and Jamie Metoyer, respectively, were beautifully tailored to the show, set, and actors. Though there were some issues with sound, namely balancing microphones, the sound crew (Juliette BeJune and Dailyn Robaina) fixed issues promptly and had the perfect music to fit every scene.

Though we've seen the story of love against death many times, no show has done it quite like Eurydice, and with such unique actors and staging, Coral Glades High School's production was no exception.

Peri Harris
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

What is it really like to be surrounded by the deep depths of the underworld? One can only believe in the myths until they see it for themselves. Discover the power of music and travel on an unimaginable journey with gravity defying elevators, death prevailing rivers, and even talking stones, in Coral Glades High School's production of "Eurydice".

The captivating greek myth adapted by Sarah Ruhl tells story of a soon to be married couple, Eurydice and Orpheus, and their journey to finding unity. Dying in the middle of her wedding, Eurydice takes a massive tumble down to the underworld, where she reunites with her father. In order to reconvene with her love, Orpheus, Eurydice traveled far and wide, and learned the hard way that all relationships are constructed by trust, and sometimes love cannot withstand forgetfulness.

Jerwayne Graham phenomenally portrayed Eurydice, as she graced the stage with believable hope and emotional commitment. Graham flawlessly embodied Eurydice's immense struggles as she endured various obstacles in the underworld. Alongside Graham was her fiance, Orpheus, portrayed incredibly by Joshua Flynn. Flynn dissected the power of music throughout the production, as he evoked passion for the melodies of love that he constructed, and his stellar performance gave a raw insight to his character's intense affection for Eurydice. Graham and Flynn's chemistry throughout the show grew noticeably stronger as the story progressed, and they connected beautifully throughout the entirety of the production.

Derek Sands (Her Father) used his comforting tone and compassion to serve as Eurydice's father figure as she traveled through the underworld. Sands shaded Eurydice from the haunts of death and the truth of reality, like the tree he described in the production. Felipe Gonzalez (Lord of the Underworld) successfully took on the challenging task of portraying two contrasting personas with the utmost professionalism.

Lindsey Beyda, Julyette Vargas and Hayley Hunt collectively embodied the Stone Ensemble, with individualized character choices and strikingly distinct mannerisms. Throughout each scene, the trio displayed animated facials and sharp physicality, as they reprimanded Eurydice and reminded her of the rules of the underworld. They truly displayed the reality of the dark side, and provided an apparent contrast between their sassy attitude and Eurydice's hopefulness and humanity.

Despite some minor sound complications, the technical aspects of the production ran quite smoothly, from the realistic special effects to the intense makeup. The cast utilized their outdoor space flawlessly, while including the audience throughout the intense journey. The makeup design, by Dailyn Robaina, was masterfully executed with remarkable attention to detail.

Coral Glades High School's production of "Eurydice" allowed the cast to embrace true meaning of love, loss and trust. They invited audiences to explore deserted paths, face the unimaginable, and left them wondering, "how does a person remember to forget?"

Dylan Jost
North Broward Preparatory School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Classic Greek myths always come bearing a moral or lesson to offer. "To love, accept, honor, and help others" – these are the vital teachings brought to life in this captivating production of "Eurydice". The dedication and impressive skill set of the young actors of Coral Glades High School enabled them to truly bring the spirit of "Eurydice" to the stage.

A reimagining of the classic Greek myth of Orpheus, Sarah Ruhl's "Eurydice" premiered at the Madison Repertory Theatre in Wisconsin in 2003. Ruhl's version follows the character Eurydice through her romance with her husband Orpheus, her untimely death, and the rekindling of her relationship with her deceased father. The story seems to begin with a traditional love story: girl meets boy, they fall in love, and they get married, finally living their perfect lives together as two halves of a heart and soul. Soon, however, bookish bride Eurydice dies tragically and is whisked to the Underworld, a bleak landscape of forgotten souls and eerie Stones. Reunited in death with her father, and yearning to be back in the arms of her love Orpheus, Eurydice finds herself trapped in the Underworld, torn between the realms of love, life, and death.

By utilizing a small and skilled cast of seven, the characters of "Eurydice" fully drew the audience into their world. Led by the effective and believable performance of Jerwayne Graham as Eurydice, the entire cast capably fulfilled their roles. Graham's performance helped balance the play's comical yet dark tone. Graham's childlike innocence lent an endearing quality to Eurydice that shone especially in her scenes with her father. She delivered both subtle jokes and heartbreaking monologues with ease. As Orpheus, Joshua Flynn's stoic and restrained support provided the play with sorrow moments as he wrote letters to his deceased wife. Flynn displayed electric chemistry with Graham, particularly in the opening scene of the production where Orpheus proposes to Eurydice in a charming, captivating manner.

Particular praise must be given to the memorable, engaging performance of Derek Sands as Eurydice's father. Sands's perfectly balanced combination of hope and sadness brought authenticity to the production. His vulnerability was clear, particularly in scenes where he interacted with Eurydice. As the Stones, Lindsay Beyda, Julyette Vargas, and Hayley Hunt spoke in near perfect unison, creating an unnerving voice of the dead through the use of vacant stares, statuesque poses, and dark humor.

Technically the show was masterfully executed. The hair and makeup by Dailyn Robaina were particularly well done. The makeup on the Stones was artistically brilliant, impeccably designed, and allowed them to more believably portray the characters. The set was creatively designed, incorporating the style of a classic Greek amphitheater in an outdoor setting. This included the notable addition of an elevator complete with a pouring rain effect, which added to the authenticity of the production.

Coral Glades High School admirably told a story of love, loss, and longing in their well-executed production of "Eurydice". Transporting the audience to a world laden with talking stones, raining elevators, and hotel rooms made out of string, the actors of "Eurydice" proved that love is perhaps the greatest motivator of all.