Carry On, “Geryon”

Photos by Alex Del Cueto

“Geryon” is a play in prose written by theater and performance seniors Max Tandy and Alec Hoxha, inspired by “Autobiography of Red: A Novel in Verse” by Anne Carson. Hoxha, Tandy and Munirah “Moon” Morris produced “Geryon” as their senior project.

The play tells the story of Geryon, a red-winged monster killed by Herakles in an ancient Greek story by Stesichoros. In this adaptation, Geryon is an ordinary young man who falls in love with Herakles in the 60s and 70s.

The story explores time, distance and perception of the self through the fragmented telling of Geryon’s Autobiography.

The play opened with narrators Endo (Eli Bettmann) and Exo (Eva Doyle) telling the story of Stesichoros.

Endo and Exo represent Geryon’s (Christian Smikle) wings and inner thoughts.

Geryon used the new notebook that his mother (Tionne Watson) gave him as a new way to express his thoughts in an artistic way.

One of Geryon’s first drawing that he wanted to show his mother, showing the original story of Geryon from ancient Greece.

Herakles (Daniel Griffith) and Geryon met for the first time as Herakles was beginning his journey to explore the world.

Geryon used his mother as a model while she scolded him for being out so often with Herakles.

Geryon ran off to go stay with Herakles and his grandmother in their home in Hades.

Geryon dozed off dreaming of Herakles as Gran (Sarah Barnett) tells a story.

Herakles tried to comfort Geryon as his inner thoughts caused a fight between them.

Herakles brought Geryon breakfast the next morning but ended up upsetting him by bringing up the fact he has to head home.

Geryon returned home to his mother sad about the falling out with Herakles wondering if he’ll ever see him again.

Geryon answered the phone and was in shock to find that Herakles had called to check on him.

Exo and Endo held up a heart that served as representations of both Herakles new training partner that Geryon was jealous of as well as Geryon’s own heart being crushed.

 Geryon broke down after the phone call with Herakles ended at the end of Act One.

The show will be performed from April 10 through 12 in the Center for Media, Film and Theatre, room 2032.