A little romance, some family turmoil, and a bunch of laughs in Odyssey Theatre’s The Amorous Servant
The scene is set with Pantalone chatting up old chum Ottavio on behalf of Ottovio’s son, Florindo, recently booted from home after a quarrel with stepmom, Beatrice. Ottavio holds the belief that a happy home is giving in to whatever Beatrice wants, including the estrangement of his son and signing over the family fortune to Beatrice and hers.
The only thing standing in Beatrice’s way, and the only thing keeping abandoned and destitute Florindo (who, frankly, isn’t capable of functioning on his own in the world) from starving to death is valiant and loyal Corallina. As hero to Beatrice’s villain, Corallina vows to not only expose Beatrice and get Florindo home again but to get him the heart of his love, Rosaura along the way.
Sitting in the late show of Movin’ Melvin Brown’s A Man, A Magic, A Music, I glanced off and saw his silhouette projected against the side wall. Ten-feet tall. Larger than life. I knew that that was how I had to start this review because that’s the best way to describe him. Movin’ Melvin Brown has such a strong personality, he’s exploding with it in every word he says or sings, every tap he dances, every laugh he laughs.
Luna is…
Do You Want To Live Forever? is a story told primarily through dance with a side of poetry added for good measure. It is the story of a man who has learned to live forever and is seeking a worthy partner. Or it is the story of a woman stuck in the doldrums of life with the weight of impending death weighing her down. Their stories overlap in a relationship spanning centuries that eventually sees her reconsidering her place in it all. Neither character is named in the text so I’ll be calling them He and She.
