SEX MYTHS!
nytheatre.com review by Soline McLain
August 15, 2003
In most renditions of Greek myths, the
gods are portrayed as grand and untouchable. However, audiences get a
"look behind the scenes" with Sex Myths! The whole cast of Mount
Olympus is present, and they are in rare form. As the lights come up,
Zeus is golfing and his daughter Athena is arm-wrestling one of her
fellow immortals.An argument (which seems to occur a lot with these Greek deities) quickly ensues between Athena (the goddess of war and wisdom) who claims that pride is the strongest force in the world, and Aphrodite (the goddess of love) who claims that love is the strongest force. Always eager for a bit of fun, Zeus declares a contest, the winner of which will receive an extraordinary, hand-crafted apple. Zeus will use "unbiased mortals" to determine the winner. Although the gods are not supposed to interfere, Athena and Aphrodite both employ disguise and intrigue to prove their points. During all of this, up on Mount Olympus most of the gods are engaging in various sexual affairs with each other and with various unsuspecting mortals. Hence the title, Sex Myths!
While the show did seem a bit rough with a few technical difficulties and forgotten lines, it was opening night, and the show was still great fun to watch. Ed McFalls’ script is amusing as it brings the literary Greek myths to an "everyday" level. For instance, rather than using lightning bolts, Zeus walks around with a golf club, and he drinks beer. Throughout the play, McFalls’ portrayal of each god’s idiosyncrasies is quite brilliant… and very funny. Director Victoria King has a nice ensemble cast with which to work. As Hera, Carolyn Castiglia is a real stand-out, for she brings such life and energy to her character. With her, there is never a dull moment, especially when she is onstage bantering with her husband Zeus, also very well-played by Josh Iacovelli, about his various lovers.
For a very funny romp with the gods and goddesses of Greek fame, you don’t have to travel to the ends of the earth like the mythological Greek heroes did…just to the Wollman Lounge!
