Heart-tugging dilemma powers ‘Eurydice’ at Live Arts

“Eurydice” can be seen at 8 p.m.Saturday and Wednesday and 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the UpStage space at Live Arts.

Tonight’s performance already has sold out.

Bree Luck is in the director’s chair for a play that explores the depths of romantic love and the strength of the love between parents and children.

Her cast includes Jen Downey, Sara Eshleman, Don Gaylord, Eamon Hyland, Missell Leddington, Bill leSueur and Ray Nedzel.

Contemporary playwright Sarah Ruhl’s take on the play blends music, visual fantasy and humor into a timeless Greek tale as it looks at the story of Eurydice from her perspective.

The Greek myth was told from the point of view of Orpheus, her husband.

In Ruhl’s version of the story, Eurydice is reunited with her beloved father in the underworld after her untimely death.

When Orpheus, her husband, comes to rescue her and return her to the land of the living, she faces the possibility of loss and pain with either choice. Eurydice must decide whether to stay with her father or return with her husband.

It’s the second play by Ruhl to be performed at Live Arts. “The Clean House,” which was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2005, was presented last season.

A matinee performance is scheduled for 2 p.m. June 21. That’s Father’s Day, in case you were rooting for Eurydice to pick dear old Dad.

Thursday’s “early bird”  performances start at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday’s shows are on a “pay what you can” basis.

To get a glimpse of the productions in store for Live Arts’ 2009-2010 season, drop by http://www.livearts.org.

Tickets for “Eurydice” are $14 and $12. To get them, visit http://www.livearts.org or call 977-4177, Ext. 108.