Griffin Hewitt’s bold, risqué, and mischievous performance as a satyr in Cyclops: A Satyr Play has definitely sparked my interest in the various characters of Greek mythology. The production emphasizes what the TIFT website describes as the “incomplete, half-translatable” text of Euripides’ The Cyclops.
Why this interest now, after finishing my undergraduate and teaching degree almost 40 years ago? Many elements of the show spark curiosity—humour, wit, and audience interaction. There’s techno-pop (or is it punk?) music.
Hewitt’s terrific in the role. At one moment, he has the audience laughing out loud, and the next, he draws us back to respectful, eager attention, sharing a story that can be quite touching.
Set in an intimate venue at Toronto’s Bathurst B Street Arts Hub, Hewitt lies face down on the floor as the audience enters. Lights flicker like a karaoke or rave bar (it’s been a while since I’ve been to one). Scattered around are plastic red cups and pieces of paper. There’s also a ‘toy’ that is pulled out at one point, which made me laugh uproariously. Loud music blares. There’s a palpable ‘busyness’ within the setting.
When Griffin wakes from his stupor at the start of the show, it’s a moment that still makes me smile. He’s dressed as a satyr—top half man, bottom half goat, complete with black hooves. He sports a mustache. He’s wearing horns on his head. His shirt is torn. For his lower half, he sports crimson red pants with a tail that swings back and forth as he walks.
There are interactive moments in which Griffin engages with the crowd. In this intimate setting, it’s impossible to hide and not be selected. My guest was invited (more like pulled up) to play ‘Guess Who I Am?’. Hewitt encourages singing, and we do. My eyes kept watching him, wondering what he was going to do next. He’s working hard to keep the momentum going. Even if some of the text isn’t from The Cyclops or parts of the plot seem confusing, who cares?
It’s Griffin Hewitt we’ve come to see.
He’s an incredible showman satyr who keeps the performance’s momentum going without ever slowing down. He firmly establishes eye contact with each audience member many times. His homoerotic fascination with sweaty gladiator men (and Brad Pitt’s picture appears) is hilarious. Hewitt is also a talented singer and can belt out a tune with style and finesse.
Yet, through the most enjoyable evening spent in this intimate setting, there’s a tinge of sadness at the end as Griffin exits the stage. As the satyr, he knows his time is done. Does the cyclops extinguish the satyr’s life? Now that his work is done, does the satyr go off to another life?
That’s for future audiences to experience.
Definitely recommended. Go in with an open mind as there’s suggestive stuff happening on stage.
Running time: approximately one hour with no intermission.
The performance runs to April 4 at B Street Collaborative, 1100 Bathurst Street, Toronto. For tickets: tift.ca.
TIFT presents
CYCLOPS: A SATYR PLAY
Produced by Panic Theatre
Written, directed, and performed by Griffin Hewitt
Original Music by Juliette Jones
Stage Manager/Assistant Director: Sydney Cochrane
Associate Producer: Dustyn Wales
Associate Producer: Gabi Epstein
