SISYPHUS
[Subtitle: Calling all Greeks in Los Angeles! Tonight is your chance to see one of your national heroes in person!!! Do not miss it!]
First, there was Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby playing Peter Pan. Now there’s Ioannis-Icarus Melissanidis, a floor exercise Gold Medalist from Greece, playing Sisyphus. He even created this one-man show for himself!
But you have to catch it quickly–the U.S. Premiere of Sisyphus is here in Beverly Hills, at Theatre 40, for just two performances, both tonight only. [Note: I was told that the show was previously in London, so he may tour with it at some point.]
Before I discuss the show itself, here’s a little something about Ioannis. When he won his gymnastics gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, he became the first Greek athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in that sport in over 100 years! Pretty impressive. He also had the distinction of being the youngest male to win a gold medal in gymnastics ever. (I believe he was eighteen at the time. Weren’t we all!)
Melissanidis based this version of Sisyphus on works of Samuel Beckett, and the play is wordless. (But it’s not silent–there’s a lot of gasping and heavy breathing.) Ioannis’ performance was working, but I have to admit that the show itself is not really my cup of tea, (especially because the director, Elpida Skoufalou, stands on the side and blows a piercing athletic whistle quite often, as part of the production. Afterwards several of us suggested they leave that part out in the future, but they said it’s necessary, to make Sisyphus, and the audience, uncomfortable. Mission accomplished.)
But it doesn’t hurt that Ioannis’ only costume is a bandage-like loin-cloth, (which you know I loved!) I think he looks even better than he did almost two decades ago! He was a boy then, and he’s a man now. As the press release so aptly states, “The actor has retained the chiseled, athletic physique of a magnificent Olympic champion, evoking comparisons to classical sculptures of the Greek characters of legend.” I can’t argue with that assessment! The guy has zero percent fat on him! Most world-class gymnasts I know personally, (and you’d be surprised at how many that actually is,) have changed since their time in the gym, but not Ioannis, who also maintains perfect posture. And I was thrilled to see him do some rope work in the show, if only for a brief moment.
The other visual I enjoyed was the set by Jeff G Rack. It’s basically a tarp that’s made to look like dirt, and is perfect for the action.
The weird thing, for me, is that this is the second play I’ve seen in three days where half-naked men are carrying big rocks around! I wonder what meaning this has in my life, (other than that I’m reviewing Sisyphus today, and will do the same for Bent on Friday.)
So to sum up, this play means whatever you take out of it. It may actually be deep. In the Q-and-A, Ioannis and Elpida mentioned something about it being fate versus choice. Ioannis also said that saying, “No,” is full of dignity and power. (Mr. X must be the most powerful man I’ve ever met because he tells me an emphatic “NO!,” every time I ask him to come out with me!)
I’d love to see Ioannis in a speaking performance because his speech is absolutely lovely. For one of the few times in my life, I wished the post-show chat had been much longer because I not only loved listening to his voice, I admired what he had to say, as well.
On a human interest note, Melissanidis is an Ambassador of Special Olympics, (an organization I’m a big fan of; I used to always be one of the celebrities giving out the medals, etc., when it was held at UCLA for many summers, and it was one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my career.) So, a portion of the proceeds from this Beverly Hills production will be donated to the cause. It was heart-warming to see a bunch of the Special Olympians enter the theatre during the post-show Q-and-A, fresh from their international games in downtown LA. Ioannis genuinely perked right up, and the warmth with which he welcomed the athletes was a joy to behold. I’m so grateful to have witnessed it. (There will be more special athletes there tonight, so you may get to see that tenderness for yourself.)
And remember–at Theatre 40, there’s always tons of free parking right under the theatre.
Sisyphus running for two more performances only, both on July 29, 2015
Theatre 40, in the Reuben Cordova Theatre, 241 S. Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills 310-364-0535 www.theatre40.org