It has been a fantasy-filled year for Know Theatre of Cincinnati, a season the organization has themed “Once Upon a Time.” Recent productions have featured dragons, fairies and monsters of the occult.
Know now has opened Heavier Than…, written by Steve Yockey (Pluto, The Fisherman’s Wife), which folds Greek mythology into the season’s mix of lore and fable. Heavier Than… is the story of Asterius (Landon Horton), the minotaur situated at the heart of a cunning labyrinth. It is the only life “Aster” has ever known — he has haunted the labyrinth since he was 3 years old, and he is turning 30 tomorrow. He shares his birthday with the Festival, during which seven of Athens’ bravest champions will wend their way through the maze to try to slay the beast.
In Greek mythology, the minotaur is not a sympathetic character. He is a monster that moves the plot forward, who kills many nameless hopefuls until a hero can emerge and best him. However, from the first moment of Yockey’s play we are introduced to a lonely and contemplative young man. He sports a gorgeously crafted set of horns, but otherwise does not even look so different from the rest of us. It is the heart of the minotaur that is the heart of this story.
Aster is lonely but not alone. Nicole A. Hershey, Miranda McGee and Maggie Lou Rader are the Chorus, a trio of sister-goddesses and Aster’s constant companions — whether he wants them there or not. In Greek mythology, the triad known as the Fates control the unchangeable threads of each mortal’s destiny. In Heavier Than…, this catty chorus is focused exclusively on Aster’s story, teasing and manipulating the minotaur with their visions, which provide his only glimpses of the outside world and of his beloved mother Pasiphae (Piper Davis).
Yockey’s Chorus slip in and out of harmony; often the women speak in lock-step, almost as one creature, and at other times each exudes a bit of her own personality. Their dialogue is less a script than a dance. The effect is somewhat schizophrenic and wholly riveting, and I imagine as the production rolls on, the harmony will become even tighter and more compelling to watch. Hershey, McGee and Rader have the most challenging roles in this show and each sizzles.
Besides the inconstant Chorus, Aster has but two companions. Icarus (Nathan Tubbs) — the boy who famously flew too close to the sun — flits from the sky to pester Aster with an aggressive love that the minotaur does not reciprocate. This is Tubbs’ debut with Know, and I hope to see more of his winsome pluck on local stages.
Aster’s secretive half-sister Ariadne (Jordan Trovillion) is the sole keeper of the labyrinth map. She visits when, and only when, it suits her. Yockey’s Ariadne is vapid and self-centered, which Trovillion seems to have great fun with. The labyrinth is practically a character unto itself, and Andrew J. Hungerford’s scenic design is remarkable.
One might imagine that a play taking place in a 10-foot circle would feel stagnant, but director Bridget Leak keeps actors moving around and in front of Hungerford’s tightly wound set. The Chorus, confined to a single bench, feel animated even when sleeping.
The production team also lists a role one doesn’t see with every show: a Costume Craftsman, Brandon Johnston, is responsible both for Aster’s impressive horns as well as Icarus’ increasingly elaborate series of clockwork wings. When you add Noelle Johnston’s delicate costume designs with their soft palette, the production comes across as one with a single, well-executed vision.
For me, a dyed-in-the-wool mythology nerd, the show was a success, minus a few forgivable opening-night jitters and stumbles. For others going in cold, it might be slightly harder to get into. Yockey does an admirable job of weaving the backstories into the narrative, but unless you know the myths it becomes hard to decipher which ideas are canon and which ideas are the playwright’s.
And that is OK. Even with no context, audiences will enjoy this clever exploration of families, survival and whether or not we can change our own destinies. Those of us who enjoy a good Daedalus reference might just like it a little bit more.
HEAVIER THAN… is on stage at Know Theatre through April 1. More info: knowtheatre.com.
This article appears in Mar 15-22, 2017.
