Perseus Bayou - Review050

Imagination Stage cleverly reels in fans of Greek mythology - and Percy Jackson - with Perseus Bayou, its foot-tapping adaptation of the tale of boasting Perseus and evil Polydectes playing through March 13. Director Mary Hall Surface, who brought The Hundred Dresses and The Sorcerer's Apprentice to Imagination Stage, wrote the story and co-wrote the lyrics with David Maddox. They have successfully transplanted the tale to post-Civil War Louisiana and enriched it with Cajun music and dance.

Meant for children ages six and older, the story and its themes are a bit more challenging. The complexity of describing Perseus' background, the Greek deities, and the realities of the Deep South following the Civil War are handled by having the actors mix dialogue with narration, which works well for the most part. I'm not sure children always understand the details of what's happening, but they certainly get the big picture.

With spare, yet evocative sets and costuming, audiences are brought into the world of the bayou, with its emphasis on family and hard work - plus a little fun thrown in, of course! Perseus is a good boy, although prone to youthful pride and boasting. When the rich and delightfully wicked Polydectes sets his sights on Perseus' mother, he realizes he can use Perseus' pride to get him out of the picture - and challenges Perseus to bring him the head of the snakey Medusa. With the help of a conjure woman (Athena), a panther (Hermes), and a tomboy (Andromeda), Perseus navigates the swamp, overcomes his fears, and kills Medusa - using his washboard as a shield!

Along the way, the young Perseus begins to understand the foolishness of his boasting and, despite his doubts, he doesn't turn back, but finds strength in doing what is right and in making the bayou a better and safer place for everyone. His life lessons come in the form of cryptic messages from the wise and regal Athena (whose voice just soars!), countless little challenges from the crafty Hermes, and the spunk - and first love - he finds in Andromeda. The actors all perfectly capture the essence of their characters, easily pulling the audience into the heart of the story.

While fans may feel a bit cheated by how quickly Medusa is defeated, they will definitely enjoy the three funny ghost sisters, who share just one eye among them, and the giant alligator Perseus must slay to save Andromeda. And although I was a bit sad to witness the end of Polydectes, it is the perfect finale to this well-told tale of a young hero overcoming his weaknesses to become a better and stronger person.

The dialogue and songs are sprinkled with lots of French/Cajun words, the music is lively, and the dancing swirls in a fast two-step. Add in spirit creatures, alligators, snakes, and sword fights, and you get a rollicking musical. Kids can identify with the problems that Perseus and Andromeda are wrestling with, but they don't feel bashed over the head by the moral of the story - they're having too much fun!