On Feb. 4th, the Villanova Theatre premiered its latest production “Metamorphoses” to a much-intrigued audience.

There has been buzz on campus regarding this new addition to the theatre’s repertoire – the hour- and a half play is not only centered around a potpourri of Ovid’s mythological tales, which is a change of pace in regards to the theatre’s earlier performances, but it is also performed in a pool. Yes, a pool.

The play was not the type of conventional performance we are used to seeing – it was neither a belly-shaking comedy like “Le Dindon,” nor a gut-wrenching drama such as “Long Day’s Journey Into Night.” Instead, “Metamorphoses” fell somewhere in the theatrical gray area.

The play did not shy away from humor, for the audience members found themselves chuckling through some of the corny mythological banter, but at the same time, they could find themselves becoming enraptured in the play’s intense dramatics.

Because of its adaptability, overall the play could be best described as being an interpretive performance.

With few actors and even fewer props, much of the production was dependent on the imagination of the audience, and it is because of this that the play was such a unique theatrical experience.

The actors in this production performed brilliantly – Luke Moyer “Le Dindon, Long Days” excelled, as usual, in making the audience laugh, whereas the other actors, such as Jessica Bedford, Anthony Giampetro, Jeffrey Paden and Matt Silva, helped provide the intensity of the play.

Unlike previous plays, these actors had to partake in immense amounts of choreography, which resulted in the performance vacillating between being visually stimulating, and a bit over-the-top.

Props-wise, the use of the pool in the production was awe-inspiring; it is not every day one can watch a play performed almost entirely in a shallow pool. The use of this, in combination with the lone chandelier as a light source, created an amazing aesthetic effect for the audience, and the play in itself was executed flawlessly.

Therefore, the main question regarding the play was not: “Is it a well-executed performance?” but instead: “Is it worth seeing?”

This question does not garner a simple answer. It is definitely a one-of-a-kind performance. However, the problem with that answer is that most people tend to take it to have a negative connotation. That is not the case with “Metamorphoses.”

The play was definitely different – it is centered on theatrics as opposed to conventional entertainment.

The play’s collection of stories was entertaining and thought-provoking and would be highly recommended for those interested in mythology, theatre or literature.

But aside from the educational interests for the audience, it is also an ideal production to attend for those who just want to experience something different.

Since the performance as a whole was well-received by its audience, judging by the reactions in the lobby, the true answer is not dependent on the play’s worth as a regard to the (flawless) production itself, but is instead dependent on the open-minds of its audience.