Polaroid Stories is a modern and gritty take on Ovid’s Metamorphoses, casting the heroes and gods of several Greek myths as street kids living on the edge of a desolate urban landscape. Award-winning playwright Naomi Iizuka gives voices to the traditionally voiceless by merging outcasts of our urban society with mythological characters whose ephemeral, transient lives reflect the main themes of
Ovid's Metamorphosis, on which many of the stories are based, the power of storytelling and transformation. In Polaroid Stories, Persephone (Queen of the Dead in Classical mythology) is a drug addict prostitute; Orpheus (who in Classical mythology is the greatest ever musician, capable of making rocks cry with the beauty of his music, and travels to hell to save his wife) obsessively stalks Eurydice. This darkly lyrical production also follows Ariadne who is hopelessly abandoned by a Skinhead boy (aka Oklahoma Boy, aka Pentheus, aka Theseus); Narcissus, who in Ovid’s tale falls in love with himself and becomes a flower, is a ‘Raver’ followed by Echo; D(ionysus) is a powerful drug dealer and G(Zeus) roams the streets searching for love and a good night's sleep. The Hawai‘i premier of Iizuka's Polaroid Stories will draw audiences into the sad world of homeless youth—behaving like Classical Greek gods and heroes: bragging, chasing sensual pleasures, telling stories, searching for love, seeking transformation and transcendence—seeking to escape. Taurie Kinosh*ta, who has done critically acclaimed work in London for four years, directs a cast made up entirely of students. Each night, a different pre-show lecture will be presented on: Classical mythology, substance abuse issues, homelessness, censorship in the arts. A post-show talk back with the actors is scheduled for the Friday March 22nd performance. Additionally, a graffiti artist will make live art each night onstage.
