Ovid’s Metamorphoses has been inspiring artists ever since it was written over a 1,000 years ago. Maybe, the most notable artist this poem inspired was William Shakespeare, considered by many as the greatest playwright ever. One finds echoes of Ovid’s work peppering most of Shakespeare’s works, both tragedies and comedies.
More recently, playwrights from all over the world have drawn inspiration from Metamorphoses to write their own work and also adapt the poem for the stage.
Most notable among these works is American Mary Zimmermann’s adaptation and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s adaptation of Ted Hughes’s translation of the poem.
Obviously, Maltese artists were bound to be inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Popular artist Anthony Catania based his exhibition at St James Cavalier in 2013 on the story of Acteon.
Now, Unifaun Theatre Productions’ artistic director Adrian Buckle has teamed up with author Trevor Zahra to adapt this poem for the stage in Maltese.
A collection of Greek myths with one central theme: love
Ovid’s Metamorphoses is a collection of Greek myths with one central theme: love.
The play has Cupid as the central character who darts his arrows at gods and humans alike, making them burn with passion, only to have that passion go unsatisfied or end in tragedy. There are spurned lovers, distraught parents, murder, incest and rape. The narrative is graphic and violent as was the nature of Greek plays and literature.
However, the play also features the tender love of a parent for his children, love towards siblings and love for one’s own work.
Another theme that is evident in the narrative is obviously that of metamorphosis or change. In all the stories narrated, one of the protagonists undergoes a transformation.
Daphne turns into a tree when pursued by Apollo; Narcissus turns into a flower when he realises his yearning cannot be fulfilled; Arachne turns into a spider when she offends the goddess Athena; and Io is turned into a cow by Giove in order to protect her from Juno’s jealousy.
Unifaun have always been unconventional in their approach to theatre and this production is nothing less. Most of the action, in fact, occurs in water and the whole stage is one big swimming pool where the actors, directed by Stephen Oliver and Dominic Said, will carry the narrative.
The cast includes some familiar faces, such as Magda van Kuilenburg, Jamie Cardona and Stephen Mintoff, but also many newcomers like Lydia Portelli, Sarah Amato, Michela Farrugia, Clayton Mallia, Ryan Cutajar, Julia Camilleri, Karl Schembri and Clint Chircop.
Mario Sammut, Francesco Sultana, Claire Tonna and Yasmin Kuymizakis will be playing music composed by themselves purposely for this production.
Metamorphoses, showing as part of the Malta International Arts Festival, will be performed in the courtyard of Fort St Elmo, Valletta, on Monday, July 10, at 6pm and 9pm and on Tuesday, July 11, at 9pm. Tickets can be bought from St James Cavalier or www.kreattivita.org or www.unifauntheatre.com. For more information call 7905 6558 or 2122 3216.