Oak Park Newspaper

A statue of Vulcan at the Louvre

Hephaestus in Greece was equvalent to Vulcan for the Romans. Created by Guillaume Coustou the Younger
(French, 1716–1777)

Hephaestus
Ἥφαιστος

review by Ed Vincent

If you are going to see any performance drama this year,

Hephaestus is the one to see. This is perhaps the most exciting
performance I have ever seen, tremendous physical talent, marvelous artistic portrayals, grand story adaptation, and breathless excitement for the entire show.

Depending upon which is your favorite writer of Greek mythology, is it Hesiod or Homer? You will find various tales of the birth and maturing of our young God, some say he was born with deformed legs and cast from the heavens or some say he was just ugly and cast from the sky and damaged his legs on hitting the sea. The version chosen by Tony Hernandez and Heidi Stillman favors the injury by falling scenario--all the rest is true.

The play begins with a darkened set and lighting like an old Sherlock Holmes with Basil Rathbone. A young girl, or perhaps an enchanted little goddess, Tatiana Ranallo, narrates the tale of the forlorn and discarded Hephaestus. I look forward to seeing it again, the drama, lighting, musical interplay and performance were spellbinding.

I loved all of the Cirque du Soleil shows I have seen, but this adventure is right in your lap, literally in some cases, and the intimate nature of the Goodman's Owen theater is phenomenal.

I would think that this show could run for years as an open run, and it should. However this visual and auditory treat is only going to be playing until June 6th.

Get your tickets soon and bring a friend with you.

Hephaestus
Ἥφαιστος

A Lookingglass and Silverguy Entertainment production at the Goodman Theatre.

The world’s elite circus performers, including veteran members of the Wallenda Family, Ringling Bros. and Cirque du Soleil, return to Chicago for Hephaestus: A Greek Mythology Circus Tale. A Silverguy Entertainment and Lookingglass Original sold-out hit in 2005 and 2008, Hephaestus is a must-see circus theatre event. Evocative storytelling, amazing athleticism and the very highest levels of circus artistry bring the ancient Greek myth of Hephaestus to the high wire in this death-defying circus retelling created by renowned circus artist Tony Hernandez and Lookingglass Artistic Director of New Work Heidi Stillman.

"Explosive, dangerous and dazzling"
- The Wall Street Journal

"Stunning...breathtaking"
- Chicago Sun-Times