UNCLE OVID'S STORYTIME & STAND-UP METAMORPHOSES

Todd Conner is a masterful storyteller with a body that twists into vivid physical images, and he has an extraordinary capacity for vocal gymnastics as well.  Conner is meticulous in his approach to classical poetry, translating and adapting Ovid's Roman myths to his own grand style that mixes dignified oratory and intense characterizations.  In doing so, he beautifully captures the essence of the world's impermanence, especially in a very moving Act 2 speech when he becomes the aging Pythagoras, explaining the ephemeral nature of humanity.  Though there is a constant lyric beauty in his words, Conner's text is perhaps too thorny to sustain our focus for the entire 90 minutes.  Still, the purity of his voice, along with lovely harp music by Bobbie-Jo Curley, accompanied sweetly by crickets in this amphitheater, create an atmosphere of serenity and meditation-even if the mind wanders briefly away from Ovid, from Conner and from the density of their collaboration.

Tom Provenzano

Reviewing for LA Weekly 10/13/00

* This performance piece was recently re-titled Metamorphoses