This week, I’m reviewing The Olympians, a new musical recently highlighted by publisher Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW). It pairs a book set in Classical Greece with a score cobbled together from hit songs dating from 1969 to 2017.
I was intrigued by the premise when TRW offered me a free perusal script: Athena, Aphrodite and Artemis realize that the women of the world are getting a raw deal and decide to help out by raising up some heroines to inspire change. Each chooses a champion to compete on a dangerous quest. But the heroines aren’t willing to be proxies or playthings of the gods. They decide to work together instead of fighting for supremacy.
With hit songs like Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway,” Pat Benatar’s “Invincible,” “Bad Day” by Daniel Powter and “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus, the concept sounded promising. And it started out so well that I was looking forward to being able to recommend this as a musical that lifts and unites. But then it floundered so thoroughly that the best I can say is the musical is cute, often funny, with an upbeat message about working together, not giving up, and choosing your own way in spite of intense pressure from the powerful.
Here’s the good: heroines Sophia, Zoe and Lexi are all admirable characters who are willing to make personal sacrifices in order to help each other rather than chase glory for themselves. In the end, they even choose to sell a valuable, long-lost treasure in order to feed the poor, rather than hand it over to the denizens of Mount Olympus. Some of the songs work so well, they seem to be written for the book, rather than the other way around. And the numerous pop culture allusions are funny.
Here’s the bad: as the show progresses, the dialogue becomes somewhat tortured in order to pair with the songs. The stringing together of hit singles does not allow for full development of any character, and that gets in the way of a compelling story arc. Anachronisms in the lyrics (like references to buses, malls, jet planes, etc) pile up and become jarring. The resolution of the mortal’s conflict with the angry gods feels far-fetched and unrealistically convenient. And the final song is especially weak, seeming to have been chosen for its story-telling lyrics rather than its music, which isn’t moving.
With a run-time of two and a half hours, The Olympians is a fun show that calls for cooperation, equality between the sexes, and the freedom to be yourself. It’s not going to change the world, it’s not meant to be taken seriously, but it’s likely to make you laugh.
Thanks for your support for Summit Stages! If you liked this story, please consider sending it on to a friend.
If you are not already subscribed to my weekly newsletter, I'd be delighted if you'd do so here.
And a deeply, heartfelt thanks to those who've contributed to my tip jar Your support is greatly appreciated!
See you next week!
ความคิดเห็น