Orpheus & Eurydice

See it if you'd like 2+ hrs w sincere, dedicated, warm, talented, enthusiastic actors. Updated O&E, not very insightful. Strg singing. Intimate space.

Don't see it if you want a gr story w well-integrated songs. Or creative staging (actors spin ard in center). Still, troupe eventually makes you invested.

See it if Intimate production in a new take on the old myth. Creative, beautiful & passionate with a great twist!. Very engaging cast.

Don't see it if you want your greek straight and your productions big.

Also The show has some beautiful lyrics/text and smart turns of phrase.

See it if You'd enjoy a modern retelling of the greek mythology. Super talented cast and very nice intimate production.

Don't see it if You dislike small intimate productions or don't like modern twists on classics.

See it if If you know the story, this one has some interesting twist to it. Warm and inviting production.

Don't see it if Has a lot of dialogue and can be slow at times. Maybe too long for some.

See it if Creative feminist version of the myth, set in modern times with depth of feeling, rich details, & wonderful music. Warm & enthusiastic.

Don't see it if Springsteen tunes w/some audience participation (I liked, but some may not). Lots of narration. Distracting lights shine on audience. Long.

See it if you’d like to experience an engaging, cotemporary, musical take on the Orpheus & Eurydice story.

Don't see it if you want a standard play: Here 4 performers narrate, sing & sometimes act as the stories of the 2 lead characters unfold & at last interact.

Also I was fully taken by the 4 performers here & the 2 stories they tell, sing & enact, about 2 contemporary versions of 2 famous lovers from Greek myth, Eurydice & Orpheus, presented at first separately & eventually entwined. The live music, guitars, electronics & (most importantly) voices, is sweet & makes sly use of some pop standards along with original pieces. The idiomatic takes on the mythic material felt as sly as the music. The quartet of young Australian performers could not be more engaging. The new clean, spare, intimate upstairs space at Soho Playhouse seemed ideally suited to performers & material.... Read more Read less

See it if Good talent. Great idea to bring to Soho. Great effort by all four.

Don't see it if Lights blind part of audience. Accents need time to adjust to. Too many steps to loft. Soho needs more organization re; 3 shows.

See it if you'd like a fresh take on the Greek characters by an energetic cast doing it all - acting, singing, playing instruments, engaging audience.

Don't see it if you expect traditional presentation of these stories-here there's no set, costumes or props, but contemporary music is added. Bright lights!

See it if for the charming performers who have created this piece and encourage the audience to sing along.

Don't see it if you expect the traditional myth. This is a creative modernization.

See it if Orphy going down under to retrieve his Eury narrated/sung/miked/amped in the round in the small new Loft."Colour me in so I'm not just b&w"

Don't see it if Two hrs w/ break. "The lover's arms take us out and nestle us in the weed/If he wants to move a goddess, then he'd better up his game"

Also "The present is precious, but it's not meant to last/Never gonna do what you say"... Read more Read less

See it if You want a modern update on the Orpheus & Eurydice myth. You want a charming cast & some great music. You enjoy intimate staging.

Don't see it if You don't like heavy narration plays: we're told what's happening more than shown. You want to see more of O & E together: most of...

Also Act 1 is them apart & w/other people. The language dealing w/inner feelings is beautiful. The extended exploration of O & E as teens & young adults is slow & while the cast members are pleasant, we didn't need to know what they did today or their word of the day as part of the play. When they get into O & E together, it works well & is worth waiting for. Also, the run time is 2 hours, not 1 & 1/2 as listed.... Read more Read less

See it if In the round with talking, music, singing with some original music. Performers are very friendly.

Don't see it if Want production with costume, dancing. This is in a line of storyteller. Running over 2 hours.

See it if contemporary & original script by one of the actors; music without being a musical; likeable/ talented/hard working 4 person ensemble.

Don't see it if you don't like small spaces with small audience capacity; no interest in interacting with affable actors preshow; 1st act slow, 2nd flies by

See it if Want to spend 2+ hrs w pleasant performers in modern reworking of old myth. It's as if traveling minstrels showed up in the town square.

Don't see it if Want props, sets, lights, or more than stepping iin/around bare circle. Music feels repetitive & it's hard to stay engaged, but still nice.

Also Be forewarned: This is in The Loft, a new performing space at Soho Playhouse. Know that you will have to climb 1.5 flights of stairs (no elevator) with cramped seating on padded metal chairs.... Read more Read less

See it if You want a unique look at the Orpheus & Eurydice story. Beautiful music and spoken word. Enthusiastic performers. Brilliantly done.

Don't see it if You can't deal with accents. One performer's voice and cadence made it a little hard to follow them.

Also This is one of my top 10 of 2019. Even with the little problems it faces in a new loft space at the soho playhouse, it was very well worth the price of admission.... Read more Read less

See it if An engaging rewriting of the myth. Concept album of love songs/break up songs. Like coffee house acoustic punched up w/ piano bar ballads.

Don't see it if you want a set/props & lots of distance btwn you & the actors. A bit of audience participation (singing along to Bruce Springsteen together)

Also You will not be asked to get up and dance. I wish someone had reassured me beforehand because the way this is set up made me feel like I was under constant threat of being pulled into the center of a dance circle. (Seating is in the round, close quarters, informal space with no separation between audience and actors.) Don’t worry—it won’t happen. If I knew then what I know now, I would have relaxed and would probably score the show higher because it’s great. A modern retelling of epic love after death sung/spoken through lyrical language & expressive music. Good variety. Well drawn characters. Four highly charismatic performers. Ends beautifully!... Read more Read less

See it if You like really clever writing, modern updates of classic tales which absolutely retains the truth of the original.

Don't see it if you dont like non classic classics. Its very fast. got to have good hearing and like holding your breath. staged so you could touch actors

See it if interested in an updated musical version of the O &E legend with an enthusiastic, ingratiating cast performed in an intimate setting.

Don't see it if you have trouble with heavy Brit accents & a story line that can be a bit confusing at first. First act could use some judicious trimming.

See it if you appreciate Greek tragedy, want to experience a fresh, modern perspective regarding this myth, and adore Springsteen’s creations

Don't see it if you demand large casts, elaborate costumes, sets, live orchestra or chorus, or adherence to original texts, or you abhor feminism

Also The UK born and bread cast are as charming as they are talented, creative, intelligent, and energetic. It was a pleasure to experience and interpret their modern rewrite of his play with them. I would like to see them develop with an educator a lesson plan for 12-15 year old children and perform this work in schools for those children, with a post-show dialog with the students.... Read more Read less

See it if A beautifully written & acted show by a young British company. The music was well configured to match this love story.

Don't see it if You don’t like Greek mythology. Also, there were a few pitchy moments.

See it if you like storytelling.There is some traditional acting,but most is storytelling embellished by good music.Original. Greek myth & Springsteen

Don't see it if you dislike storytelling & prefer traditional plays; dislike simply staged pieces, can't climb 2 flights of stairs.

See it if In the round and up close and personal, four minstrels sing, play and recant in clever verse the story of Orpheus and Eurydice.

Don't see it if You don't want to interact with performers, don't like modern and interpretive versions of classic stories, don't like intertwined stories.

Also This is the blending of two different one hour plays intertwined into two-- and stands at two hours with an intermission in an intimate loft space. The actors/singers are fabulously talented and their engaging repartee and enthusiasm are winning. Overall, a heartwarming and engaging love story (even though so sad), because the exuberance and talent of the performers was so inspiring.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a modern retelling of classic myth that isn't Hadestown. Talented and charismatic actors mostly succeed. Some lovely music.

Don't see it if you don't like bare bones, no set or costumes. Story can be a bit hard to follow at times. English accents can be hard to understand.

Also This is a lovely piece that is worth seeing. It's hard not to compare it to Hadestown and to think about the early origins of that show.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of singer-songwriter music like Damien Rice, Glen Hansard, Orla Gartland. Want to see The Last 5 years meets greek mythology.

Don't see it if You have little patience for pieces where, as an audience member, you might be momentarily lost and have to sort some things out as you go.

Also “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” -Kahlil Gibran

The word of the day for Orpheus and Eurydice is "Kintsugi", the Japanese art of repairing damaged ceramics with a lacquer resembling gold. It is not only beautiful, but a reminder that breakage or failure is not the end of our journey.

But enough philosophy. What of Orpheus and Eurydice? It is a beautiful piece that does a lot with a little. And what it does best is, with beautiful music and spoken word, make the audience feel. Yellow and blue joys and gray sorrows.

The company is fantastic, though Phil Grainger's vocal performance is a standout. Serena Manteghi's performance is perhaps the most heart-rending.

The original music is sublime, and the orchestration uniquely minimalist without being threadbare. The spoken word is entrancing.

The only shortcoming I found is the confusion that arises is the result of some nomenclature issues in act I.... Read more Read less

See it if looking for an intimate show that really has some great moments and songs. The cast does a great job of switching between the characters.

Don't see it if looking for an elaborate musical. This is also 2 hours, so if can't sit in fold-able chairs for too long this may not be fore you.

Also I didn't know much about the show, but was pleasantly surprised with the result. It's a bit long, and some of the writing can be a little confusing, but overall I really enjoyed it... Read more Read less