OBSERVER: What Lies Beneath
Sarah Miller’s What Lies Beneath, uses the myth of Demeter and Persephone as the centrepiece of her production.
What is difficult to establish is just how integral that myth is or the message Miller wishes to convey.
In the myth, Persephone (Daphne Gerolymou-Papadopoulos) is abducted by Hades, the God of the Underworld, leaving Demeter (Rosa Voto) bereft.
Between them, they are responsible for the seasons and, thus, we get fertility, life and death intermingled.
Without that understanding, it might be challenging for audiences to appreciate Miller’s intent.
There is representative movement to suggest the harvest, perhaps, but this abuts commentary that is more contemporary.
Hekate (Clare Larman) is also present onstage. Classically, she represents magic, witchcraft and is the goddess of entrances protecting homes.
How the movement, commentary, and intermingling of these characters coalesces remains open to interpretation for there doesn’t appear to be a clear narrative arc.
The myth itself has Persephone spending time in the underworld causing Demeter to lament and neglect her duties.
This brings autumn and winter. Zeus commands Demeter’s daughter must return lest the world suffer but Persephone had already eaten a pomegranate which ties her to the underworld.
She can only return intermittently. The joy of her return brings spring and summer but we know winter will return. There is work yet to be done in this production so even the uninitiated can appreciate the myth and its contemporary relevance.
Presented at Theatre Works Explosives Factory for the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Review by David McLean