'Icarus,' 'Pandora' feature mythological stories with Greek traditions

JONESVILLE — Sauk Theatre Executive Director, Trinity Bird, promises audiences they have nothing to worry about when they come to performances this weekend.

“Some people seem scared by the idea of a Greek play,” Bird said. “These two scripts tell the Greek mythology stories in modern English. We have added some tributes to traditional Greek theatre for fun, but no one will have a problem following the stories.”

The Sauk will present “Icarus” and “Pandora and the Sickle Moon,” on a double bill this weekend only. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

“Icarus” follows inventor and architect Daedalus, who commits a crime in Athens, and is banished to Crete to serve King Minos. Determined to right the wrong of his crime, Daedalus becomes a father to Icarus.

Complicating things further, Icarus falls in love with Ariadne, the daughter of Minos. After adventures involving the sea god, Poseidon, the Labyrinth, the slaying of the minotaur, and a broken heart, Daedalus and Icarus find themselves in a locked tower, surrounded by Minos' ships.

In Act Two, Pandora, the first woman created by Greek gods, has opened a box releasing all the evils of humanity. She can't undo the deed so she decides her penance must be to observe the evil play out in the world. She serves as the audience's narrator in this tragic fairy tale told out of time and place.

The Sauk cast consists of Audrey Blackham, Timothy Brayman, Isaiah Brown, Morgan Francis, Ellie Gray, Elizabeth Guest, Samuel Guest, Benjamin Johnson, John Kasper, Josh Lightner, Candida McCoy, Lucy Micun, Lauren Nguyen, Grace Teachout, Tiffany Thatcher and Esther Yokell.

Bird directs the plays with stage management by Mandee Leigh Howard.

The design team includes Chloe Callender (costumes), Chris Dube (lighting), Joella Hendrickson (sound), Jennifer Yokell (properties).

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“Jennifer has also created some magical pieces for our production,” Bird added. “She created the masks worn in the show, a giant Poseidon puppet, a wire mask for the Minotaur, the wings for Icarus and his father and designed the properties.”

All performances are at the Sauk Theatre, 240 E. Chicago St. in Jonesville.

The Thursday performance is a Pay What You Can Preview. Preview tickets are not sold in advance. All other tickets are $10.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.thesauk.org, by calling 517-849-9100 or at the door.

“Icarus” and “Pandora and the Sickle Moon” is sponsored by Drumhiller Farms and The Grate Haus.

The Sauk’s 2024 season sponsors are Joyous Journey Photography, WCSR Radio Hillsdale, 99.5 FM The Dale, Simply Hers Magazine and McGraw Publications. The Sauk is supported by the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

— Contact Reporter Corey Murray at [email protected] or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @cmurrayHDN.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: The Sauk Theater presents Icarus and Pandora and the Sickle Moon