←Recommendations of ARIADNE'S WAKE

This is a completely original take on Greek mythology. The poetry of the language, the complexity of these characters, and the fantastical setting weave together into a story that takes your breath away. These two women are such rich characters that actors would adore digging into.

"Ariadne's Wake" is a GORGEOUS, liminal, mythologic and feminine play, contemplating deep themes that not only confront the legends we tell, but the stories we tell about ourselves. The play is gorgeous to look at, written on a wave, which not only evokes the Cretan setting, but also the power dynamics and arguments at play. There's nods to Prince Hal and Falstaff, a wide knowledge of Greek mythology (always accessible), and Cross' signature love of mechanics. WONDERFUl play!

Cross has resurfaced the subtextual queerness in beloved myths, winding these "threads" into something heightened, evocative, and brand new. If you don't fall in love with the language, you'll fall in love with these two well-drawn, complex women. I loved the exploration of how difficult it is to find agency in an explicitly patriarchal, amatonormative society. Plus, there is something highly theatrical about watching a meaningful, load-bearing prop crafted on stage in real time. Stunning work!

“Ariadne’s Wake,” unfolds against the mysterious backdrop of Crete’s shore. Abandoned and caught between an unfamiliar tower above and a labyrinth below, Eva and Dyo grapple with Ariadne’s sudden disappearance. Cross’s inventive use of concrete poetry binds dialogue to the setting, exploring themes of betrayal, sacrifice, and invisible connections. A captivating exploration of friendship and myth, this play resonates with rhythm and intrigue.

A lovely story of two handmaidens who are left behind in the "wind and saltwater of [an] isle" to piece together the story of Ariadne's flight with Theseus, the murder of the Minotaur and the disappearance of Icarus and his father. I especially enjoyed Eva's plunder of Daedalus's laboratory and the staging/props possibilities here. A fascinating study of the threads that exist between us--as tenuous and complicated as the threads holding together the very myths which inspired this piece. Brava.

ARIADNE’S WAKE is unlike any play I’ve read before, employing a concrete-poetry device in which the language of its beach-bound heroines takes the form of the waves which have borne away their mutual friend. This wildly inventive structure gives the play a rhythm of its own, and binds its dialogue to its setting and themes. Having lost their shared sense of purpose, Cross’s abandoned ladies-in-waiting are at odds, even as they each embrace and reject received notions of femininity. ARIADNE’S WAKE explores what divides women, what we owe each other, and the invisible strings connecting us.