Penelope, or How The Odyssey Was Really Written

The Queen of Ithica waits patiently for herband, Odysseus, to return from the Trojan War—as suitors circle to claim her hand—in this new musical reworking of tales from The Odyssey (which also provided grist for the infamous 1976 flop Home Sweet Homer). The libretto is by Peter Kellogg, and the music is by Stephen Weiner; Emily Matlby directs and choreographs the premiere for the musicals-forward York Theatre Company, which is temporarily squatting at the Theater at St. Jean’s while its regular home space recovers from a flood. Britney Nicole Simpson plays the title role, with support from a cast that includes Leah Hocking, Ben Jacoby and Maria Wirries.