“The Iliad, The Odyssey and All of Greek Mythology in 99 Minutes or Less!” is the latest play by the FDR Theatre Guild. It is directed by Mr. Thomas Meyers and Ms. Krista Reagan. They succeeded in bringing an ancient Greek inspired play to the stage at FDR.  The audience was exposed all types of familiar characters from ancient Greek mythology such as Zeus, Hades, and Pandora.  The audience is also introduced to lesser known characters as well.

The play follows the timeline of “mankind” through the interpretation of classical Greek literature and mythology. The origin of man is portrayed in a comical manner, with Zeus and the audience being taken to major events and places like the Trojan War and The Land of the Dead. This play was very entertaining, with a colorful cast and jokes for those familiar with Greek literature and pop culture. Many of the FDR actors were used for two or more characters, and they all shined in their respective roles. Nathaniel Pineda and Vanessa Chia Chung were both excellent and obviously comfortable on stage.

The play, like any other production, suffered from some technical issues.   Microphone malfunctions did occur, and at times, actors spoke a little too fast.  However, the impact on the overall quality of the play was minimal.

The play does a great job at getting the audience to laugh and smile. The play is sprinkled with references and jokes from today’s pop culture. An example of this is when the Xbox 360, Microsoft’s popular video game console, is mentioned. However, due to the time period, it is called the “XBOX CCCLX.” Small jokes, such as this one, really enhanced the audience’s enjoyment of the play. The play follows its “99 Minutes or Less” motto, as they projected a timer, to keep the audience aware of the remaining time.

“The Iliad, The Odyssey and All of Greek Mythology in 99 Minutes or Less!” was exciting, creative, and funny—and was well worth 99 minutes of my time!  Congratulations to Meyers, Reagan, Poska, and the entire cast.  I can’t wait for the spring production of “Urine Town.”