A fascinating and evocative original musical focusing on the experiences of Odysseus’ long-suffering wife, “Penelope” makes its memorable premiere at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival.
The engaging one-woman musical which follows Penelope as she waits two decades for her husband to return from the Trojan War, runs through June 8 in the Schubert Theatre at DeSales University in Center Valley.
Rachel Camp is riveting as the titular Penelope who goes through a whole range of emotions ranging from despair to determination as she navigates her situation as a woman alone, raising a child, running the small island of Ithaca and fending off increasingly insistent suitors.
Inspired by Homer’s “The Odyssey,” "Penelope" features original music and lyrics by Alex Bechtel and a book by Bechtel, Grace McClean, and Eva Steinmetz, who also directs. It is co-produced with Philadelphia’s Theatre Horizon.
You-Shin Chen’s deceptively simple set design of a fabric draped stage is transformed by Thom Weaver’s lighting into crashing ocean, sandy beach and glowing sunset, as Camp trods barefoot around the stage.
Bechtel’s soulful songs are enchantingly lyrical and Camp delivers them with mesmerizing passion. The heavy use of a string trio gives the music a melancholic feel that suits the story well.
Although Camp starts off a witty expository song by grabbing a cocktail with the understandable (and repeated) exhortation “drink,” the character is mostly presented as clear-eyed and fiercely intelligent.
The story becomes more raw and intimate as Camp’s Penelope prays, rages at the gods, feels hopeless, fantasizes about running away and ultimately rallies her inner strength, demonstrating she is as heroic as her famous husband.
Camp brings a depth and complexity to Penelope, revealing her vulnerability as well as her cleverness and resourcefulness.
Camp is skillfully backed by an on-stage orchestra that acts as a sort of Greek chorus, accompanying her songs, providing background music, singing harmonies and, in one memorable and humorous scene, speaking in unison as the goddess Athena.
The orchestra is conducted by cellist Justin Yoder and includes Rachel Massey, violin; Nicole Fasshold-Harabaru, viola; Jamison Foreman, piano and Garrett Davis, percussion. The musicians also interact with Penelope and add to the feeling of isolation, silently arriving and leaving one by one, leaving Camp to pick out chords on the piano alone.
Steinmetz’ direction is well crafted and focused, putting the attention deservedly on the remarkable Camp.
The show is 80 minutes with no intermission.
Meet the actors for a talk-back after the June 5 show.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. June 5, 6 and 7; 2 p.m. May 31, June 1 and 8; 6:30 p.m. June 3; and 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m. June 4.
Tickets are $52 to $71.
For information, call 610-282-9455, or go to pashakespeare.org/.