Valencia College’s theater department will bring the work of acclaimed writer Margaret Atwood (“Handmaid’s Tale,” “The Edible Woman”) to Orlando in an experimental production of “The Penelopiad.” First performed in 2007 at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon Avon and the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, this theatrical adaptation of Atwood’s novella reworks the ancient Greek epic “The Odyssey” from the perspective of Penelope, Odysseus’ wife.
“As an Atwood heroine, Penelope is a wily, pragmatic survivor blessed with a strong, caustic wit,” notes critic Michael Billington of The Guardian. “Recalling her ability to appreciate Odysseus’ endless bedtime stories, she remarks, ‘It’s an underrated talent in women.’”
In what is designed to be an unconventional theater experience, Valencia College theater professor Rebekah Lane and her all-female cast invite the audience to follow the continually moving show from one location to the next. All attendees must gather at the East Campus Performing Arts Center box office 15 to 20 minutes before the show’s scheduled start. No seating will be provided as it is a walking experience. Comfortable shoes are recommended.
Note: “The Penelopiad” contains mature themes and includes stylized depictions of violence and assault. This production can only accommodate a limited number of audience members. Advanced ticket purchase is advised.
What: ‘The Penelopiad’ by Margaret Atwood.
When: Nov. 29, 30, Dec. 1 and 3, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Dec. 2, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Where: East Campus Performing Arts Center
Tickets: www.valenciacollege.edu/arts
$12 general admission
$10 senior citizens, Valencia faculty, staff & students
Use code “VALENCIAWEB” online to receive $2 off ticket price!
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For more news about Valencia College, please visit www.valenciacollege.edu/news
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