Heavily based on mythology, “Polaroid Stories” follows the story of “Metamorphoses.” PHOTO CREDIT: independentri.com
During the month of October, the University of Rhode Island’s Theatre Department performed Naomi Iizuka’s “Polaroid Stories,” a production based on ancient Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” told through stories of destitute youth and outsiders, all brought together at an abandoned pier along the outskirts of their city.
The show tells multiple myths throughout, with each actor representing one or more myths. While many of their names are not mentioned during the show, each character can be directly tied to their myth.
Liam Roberts played a partier and drug supplier, referred to as D in the playbill, and portrays Dionysus, who claimed the pier as his castle. He is introduced alongside a character simply referred to as “Skinhead Boy,” representing a combination of mythical characters, who is an addict struggling to get his life together alongside his girlfriend.
The myth of Narcissus and Echo is told through a male prostitute and a girl following him around, and the story of Orpheus and Eurydice is told through a one-sided relationship, where Orpheus is willing to do anything to get Eurydice back from the underworld and Hades, the Greek god of death.
All throughout, Philomel stays in the shadows, merely taking pictures of each scene with a Polaroid camera and singing “Wayfaring Stranger” until she is assaulted and becomes a songbird, as she does in myth.
Without knowledge of the background and inspirations, the show was slightly confusing to follow at times. However, this is due less to the production itself and more due to the heavy reliance on the myths the show is based around. Upon second viewing, with additional knowledge of the myths, the stories are much easier to follow.
The casting for the show felt right, with each actor able to bring out the most in their characters. The castings that stood out most were Liam Roberts as D, Justin Peters as Narcissus and Courtney Satterly as Neon Girl, Skinhead Boy’s girlfriend.
Roberts has generally been cast as more comedic characters in URI’s other productions in the past but lets his acting abilities shine in a more serious and nuanced role as D. Narcissus begins the first scene following the intermission by telling the audience how he ended up on the streets, first by claiming he was raised by wolves, with each telling becoming more grandiose and absurd until finally telling the true story. Peters excelled in this scene, making it feel like he was just playing a joke on some friends each time without making it feel repetitive.
Satterly, as the Neon Girl, has a similar scene, relaying how she ended up on the streets after multiple lovers, liars, and thieves led her to the life she lives. In this scene, Satterly truly conveys the emotion and distress this scene brings to her character as though it was something she herself had lived through.
The stage, lighting, and sound design were all beautifully executed, with each working well for the show. The staging had multiple dimensions to it, both vertically and in-depth, leading to very varied staging between scenes, keeping it interesting. Lighting and sound were designed to fit perfectly with the show, too, using simple lighting and sound for more emotional and conversation-based scenes, with more dramatic lights and sound for scenes of partying and drama. Throughout the show, the song “This Strange Effect,” originally written by The Kinks, is played during scenes with romantic undertones.
Overall, the show has, as the song puts it, “this strange effect on me, and I like it.” While not the most coherent show for someone without at least a basic understanding of Greek myth, the show was still incredibly powerful, well cast, and well designed by the University’s Theatre Department. The next production by the URI theatre department is Liz Duffy Adams’ “Or,” which will be shown from Dec. 8-11.