The Boston Globe
- Somewhat Recommended
"...Hamill is more than capable of tackling weighty matters, but the marriage of her voice with Homer’s voice just doesn’t work. The strain shows in multiple ways, including the four-letter words Hamill has sprinkled throughout her script — often a sign of desperation in a writer. As to why she has a character in ancient Greece singing a tune to the melody of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” your guess is as good — and probably better — than mine."
WBUR
- Recommended
"...“The Odyssey” is the story of a warrior king, Odysseus — a fantastic Wayne T. Carr — who has a reputation for his exploits and is trying to get home after the end of a long war. But the expedition he’s on is more about finding a way to forgive himself for the man he’s become over the years. Odysseus is tortured by the atrocities he’s committed — in one moving scene, he’s confronted by the ghosts of those he’s murdered — and is searching for absolution and to be reunited with his wife."
Joyce's Choices
- Highly Recommended
"...It would be hard to think of a narrative which does not involve such a journey, either psychological, metaphorical, spiritual, physical, fantastical, or just plain literal. THE AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATER'S world premiere production has taken this sprawling, pre-eminent narrative and broken it down into bite- size pieces over three hours and two intermissions- and it remains thrilling and resonant!"
Stage and Cinema
- Highly Recommended
"...Playwright Kate Hamill takes Homer’s Odyssey and gives it a sharp, contemporary spin, transforming the tale of wily and deceitful Odysseus (Wayne T. Carr) into a meditation on PTSD, accountability, and the shifting tides of power. In this bold reimagining at American Repertory Theater, Odysseus isn’t just a hero trying to get home—he’s a man wrestling with the weight of his own war crimes, questioning whether he deserves the loyal Penelope (Andrus Nichols) and their son Telemachus (Carlo Albán) after years of bloodshed."
The Arts Fuse
- Recommended
"...This Odyssey is a premiere and it is very much a work in progress. A lot goes on in an epic - three acts over three hours with two intermissions - and there's boatloads for Hamill to dramatize and for the audience to digest. There are many interesting scenes, especially in act three, the evening's strongest. The encounter with the Cyclops is a stylistic tour de force, highlighted by a projection of a large and menacing eye. Lighting, sound, and set design combine project compelling illusions of stormy seas and the precariousness of the ship. The Sirens' costumes, sound, and lighting are lovely. But the standout episode is a moving shadow puppet show that depicts the horror of the battle of Troy as Andromache (Espiritu) watches the murder of her child. It's powerful stuff."
The Sleepless Critic
- Highly Recommended
"...Three hours may sound like a lengthy stretch of time, but this gripping tale picks up immediately into Odysseus’s perilous and monumental journey. It is a good idea to get a refresher on the tale before attending the production. Homer’s The Odyssey is considered one of the most influential and most read mythological works of all time and Hamill’s reimagining mixes classic with the contemporary that delivers not only occasional moments of relatable humor but enhances the poem’s universal moral focus."
New England Theater Mirror
- Highly Recommended
"...Hamill’s version of The Odyssey evokes both memories of ninth-grade English class and the latest headlines. She is a true master storyteller and alchemist. For three hours (two welcomed intermissions), the audience rides shotgun as she personalizes and contextualizes the Greek epic that follows the hero and king of Ithaca, Odysseus, and his homecoming journey after the ten-year-long Trojan War. During the decades-long trip from Troy to Ithaca, he encounters many perils, and all of his crewmates are killed. During Odysseus’ inexplicably long absence (the distance from Troy to Ithaca is only 565 nautical miles), he is presumed dead, leaving his wife Penelope and son Telemachus to contend with a group of unruly suitors competing for Penelope’s hand in marriage."
The New England Theatre Geek
- Highly Recommended
"...The Odyssey is a grand epic tale told over three hours. It's decisively feminist and unhinged in the best ways. If you've enjoyed Kate Hamill's other adaptations, you'll enjoy this one, too."
METR Mag
- Highly Recommended
"...Right off the bat I can envision some heavy eye rolling going on but I swear to you, this show moves at a fever pitch and is never, EVER dull."
