Nine Nights Love: hilarious and heavy love between gods
But there was one lady who seemed to steal his attention for more than one night: Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory.
In fact, they spent nine nights together. Each night she conceived one of the muses, like music and comedy, therefore creating the arts.
Not your usual friends-with-benefits scenario to say the least.
The University of Western Ontario's English department, in collaboration with sem;colon productions, is presenting an intimate look into the conversations and experiences of the two lovers's nine nights — interpreted through various poetry recitations. Each “night” or scene is themed by the particular muse conceived, with the poetry matching that theme.
Nine Nights Love was developed initially by director, PhD student Tara Murphy, over last summer while she was studying Renaissance poetry.
Struck by how dramatic some of the texts were, she was inspired to compile pieces from various writers like William Shakespeare to John Milton and create scenes around them.
“Some of the texts…the human interest in them, (how) passionate they are,” she said. “I forgot how erotic and romantic and transparently clear they are (and how) meaning can be brought out with a look or a smile.”
The main idea of using the affair of Zeus and Mnemosyne brought it all together — giving it a purpose, she added.
Renaissance poetry may not seem like the most accessible entertainment — but pretentious stereotypes aside, Nine Nights Love features a lot of physical comedy and deeply emotional gestures that let audiences understand the tone of the pieces and scenes.
But while parts of the play showcase the bumbling, hilarious moments of insecurity in love; it also delves into the darker parts and of course, scenes do get steamy.
“There's no getting around the sex in these poems and it's fun to be frank about that,” said Murphy.
Producer, co-founder and performer of sem;colon productions, Jen Fraser, agreed.
“Renaissance poets are filthy,” she said.
While the play is all about this significant affair between two immortals, it's also an opportunity to experience these epic texts on perhaps one of the most epic topics: love.
“Ultimately, we're trying to make something entertaining, and get in touch with some texts that haven't really been heard,” said Murphy.
Of course, with performances around Valentine's Day, a set that involves a satin-covered love nest of a bed, and actors in little more than a slip — does this mean they want to turn audience members onto more than just poetry?
“Absolutely we do,” both answered.
