It has been hundreds of years since the Roman empire fell, but the charm of their tales still remains.  Stories of gods, monsters and heroes constantly enchant our minds and take us to a world where men fight gods for love, and the gods fight each other for everything.  Just the mere mention of the names, Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto conjures  up images of mighty well-sculpted beings that toss lightning bolts, shake seas, and sit on thrones in the deepest reaches of hell.  It is rare that a performer or writer can meet the already high expectations and perform a quality show about the invincible figures, but when it happens, it is quite  a treat.  In "Uncle Ovid's Storytime & Stand-up Metamorphoses  Todd Conner delivers a world of imagination and spectacle.

     Set in the wonderful Hollywood Hills, just off Coldwater Canyon and Mulholland, the atmosphere is perfect for such a play.  The fresh night air and its chilly nature puts one in the

mood for mysticism and magic.  The natural background seems so far from the city lights and noises, one feels isolated in what seems to be an enchanted forest.   The   stage  and seating  is surrounded by wonderfully green trees that drape the entire area in one big green circle, which only adds to the coming images of nymphs and emotional gods.

     The cold encourages the viewer to bring a blanket and ends up providing an extremely romantic atmosphere.  The hot apple cider warms, both you and your date, and provides the atmosphere perfect for a date.

     What truly makes the night a pleasure, however, is the enthusiastic performance by Todd Conner.  He is an actor who can make every role he plays believable, and he plays a lot of roles.  From the young god-child Cupid, to the dignified sage-god Zeus, each one is created to its full potential.  He switches between roles effortlessly never losing track, and making sure the audience doesn't either.  While most men who attempt one-man shows tire and cause the show to lose credibility, Todd Conner guides us not only from

character to character, but from story to story.  We follow him up and down a mountain range of emotions.  The tales of sorrowful lost loves are blended well with the light-hearted humor of petty gods and happy endings.  Adjusting the mood when appropriate and not giving away an ending till the absolute most perfect  time.  He keeps you on the edge of your seat and then delivers a huge sigh of relief when the ending is divulged.  Just as a performer is responsible when a one-man show is horrible, Todd Conner is solely responsible for this show being great.

     “Uncle Ovid's Storytime & Stand-up Metamorphoses”  is an absolute pleasure and perfect way to spend a night.  A grand combination of art and entertainment, this play is as magical  as the characters it portrays.  A delightful experience, and an educating one also, this play is delivered from the gods.

Reviewing for

Entertainment Today Los Angeles

10/12/00

* This performance piece was retitled Metamorphoses

Uncle Ovid's Storytime &

Stand Up Metamorphoses

by Derek Margolis-Devermont