Icarus has also told him his mother isn’t what she seems, and persuades Asterius to get his three chorus women to show him the truth. The truth is that his mother wants him to die so she can get rid of the guilt. So Asterius decides to let himself be killed.
This is an interesting retelling of the story (there are other versions). I have two objections. First is the characterization of Icarus as a twink. Second, the decision by the playwright and perhaps the director and actor to make Asterius a decidedly contemporary hunk. Unlike in the Lowell play referenced above, in which the cow Io appears, all classicism is lost. This might be in the casting or just the lack of classical training on the part of the actors and director.
A very built Nick Ballard plays Asterius, while Casey Kringlen is Icarus. The chorus members are played by Teya Patt, Katie Locke O’Brien, and Ashanti Brown, who are quite effective in their roles. Laura Howard is the faithless sister Ariadne. Pasiphae is played, with an evident classicism, by the excellent Jill Van Velzer. Abigail Deser is the director and the magnificent set of stone is by Kurt Boetcher. Robert Prior is responsible for the costume design, wings, horns, and shadow puppets.
Heavier Than... will play at the Theatre@Boston Court until Aug. 21.
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