A Song for Ella Gray re-enacts the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice against the backdrop of Tyneside's Ouseburn and the ambiance of the beaches of Northumberland. It’s truly a local story. Being part of a local audience, in a local theater, I was able to get a lot more out of this production as well as all of the theater's other productions. From his beautifully poetic descriptions of the city to his familiar history of the coasts, it was completely on point. However, it is also a story that has the potential to transcend locality. Writer David Almond perfectly combines a coming-of-age story with ancient mythology: the entrance to the Underworld lies beneath the Cluny, a popular bar in the Ouseburn, and the beaches of Bamburgh are reimagined as Greece. In place of the ancient Greek god, Orpheus, who charms the god of the underworld with his lyre and voice, Orpheus in A Song for Ella Gray is a brooding and mysterious Geordie boy with a voice of gold and vast horizons. In Eurydice's place is Ella Grey, a young girl who falls entirely in love with Orpheus and follows him to the ends of the earth. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The heart of A Song for Ella Gray is the story of a teenage relationship, with all the powerful invitation and destructiveness that lies within. This play is not “a simple story of a girl and a boy falling in love”, the story goes beyond that, gently exploring a story of ambiguous sexuality. He almost, very almost, does it without feeling the need to explain, define or label, which was extremely refreshing to watch. Claire, the protagonist of the story, is Ella's childhood friend and speaks of the deep love that has always existed between them. Claire is the only character to appear on stage and recounts the events of what happened between Ella and Orpheus. Amy Cameron as Claire is impressive, holding the audience's attention throughout the 90 minutes in a role that demands emotion, casualness, dynamism and placidity. Which was all the more impressive as the second act took place in complete darkness. Perhaps the only aspect that was slightly lacking was that the delivery was slightly rushed at times. However, for the most part, his performance was utterly captivating. However, this production is not a one-woman show. The lead role of Claire is supported by an ensemble of local young actors from the Northern Stage Young Company program of which I am a part. As the show progresses, this chorus attracts and pushes Claire to continue her story through the most painful efforts. At other times we play the characters of teachers, schoolchildren, Cerberus and Hades of the Underworld. The Young Company was an integral part of the second act which relied entirely on aural stimulation. Being a part of this show and this process was extremely inspiring and close to my heart. Being in the audience and watching the show in its entirety was truly wonderful. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Personalized Essay In many ways, this production has all the warmth and joy of community theater. In his post-show speech, Almond said the point of ancient stories is that they don't happen in another place or country, but here and now among us. He absolutely achieved it. Watching the show brought back many memories, both happy and painful, from my childhood. Falling in love with good people, bad people, rejection,..