The Saint

Eurydice falling to her death – Photo by Fiona Walsh

By Arts Editor, Joel Grimsley and Aquinas Reporter, Yashowanto Gosh

Aquinas College Theatre Program brought Sara Ruhl’s Eurydice back to life on the Performing Arts Center’s stage for the fourth and final show of its 2025–2026 season during the weekend of April 10–13.

A play that twists a conventional love story, Eurydice follows Orpheus and Eurydice, who despite their differences happily celebrate their wedding day when tragedy strikes. “A wedding is for daughters and fathers… they stop being married to each other on that day,” as said by Eurydice in the opening of scene 3 of the 1st movement. Yet rather than leaving her father to join her husband, Eurydice dies in a tragic fall, and leaves her newly wed husband and is reunited with her deceased father in the underworld.

The classic story of Orpheus and Eurydice, set in Greek mythology and related by ancient Roman poets like Virgil and Ovid, was reinterpreted by Ruhl in 2003 from the perspective of the female lead. It became the first breakthrough of a career in which she would go on to be a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a nominee for the Tony Award for Best Play. 

Ruhl’s main innovation is that she gives the female lead agency. Eurydice must decide whether she will return to earth with Orpheus or remain in the underworld; the retelling introduces the character of Eurydice’s father—a resident of the underworld and the reason why Eurydice might choose against returning to earth. 

Eurydice and her father reconnecting in the underworld – Photo by Fiona Walsh

Also introduced into the narrative are a chorus of stones, consisting of three actresses who remained on stage for most of the production and served as both exposition and comic relief. Ruhl’s story also featured antagonist characters: the Nasty Interesting Man and the Lord of the Underworld, played by freshman CJ Guillermo. 

The Lord of the Underworld entering on his tricycle cheered on by Big Stone (sophomore Kerrigan Smedley) Little Stone (sophomore Delaney Pocevic) and Loud Stone (Ashlyn Armock) – Photo by Fiona Walsh

I think for me the play’s focus on her father is the biggest differentiation [from the original myth],” said sophomore Michaela Faith who played the lead role of Eurydice. “Ruhl wrote the show after mourning the loss of her father, and the themes of that are incredibly evident in the show as it hones in on the deep connection between a father and a daughter and the succession of that into relationships.”

When the AQ Theatre shows for this season were first announced almost a year ago, there was already anticipation in the community, as the show would be directed by Annelise Dickson and that Assistant Professor and Director of Theatre Production Scott Harman would play Eurydice’s father.

But for their final show, senior Drew Huegli who played Orpheus took it as an opportunity to learn. “There was a lot that I learned and gained in a variety of ways. I learned so much from Annelise and her direction on how to develop this character,” said Huegli. “She helped me find a deeper appreciation for the small quirks of my character. I also learned so much from the other actors in the show… They helped me find the light hearted material in the script that showed the complexity of grief.”

Orpheus writing letters to describing his descent into the underworld – Photo by AQ theatre

Faith also commented that “Annelise is such an inspiring director, everything she does is incredibly textured and dimensional.”

“One of the things about the music that stands out especially is that almost all of it was composed specifically for this show.” Huegli said, referring to the original composition made for the show by Jordan Good . “This helped make our production stand out from others as we had original music to accompany the acting… The music also was used as a way to transcend space and time, connecting two separate worlds and mirroring how Eurydice and Orpheus were connected through a bond stronger than even death.”

“My favorite part is the original soundtrack made specifically for these showings, it really shows how much work everyone has put into Eurydice,” said sophomore Augustus Smith. “I was awestruck by the adventure Eurydice was able to take the audience on… the actors were able to evoke emotions in me consistently throughout the show. I recall hearing the pain in their voices, enjoying happiness in their laughs, and feeling movement due to how well this was put together.”

“I couldn’t ask for a better crew,” sophomore and Stage Manager Cristiana Worthams said, commenting on all the team that helped from backstage. “Finding crew with this show being so late in the semester was a challenge… people are busy, so it’s been a bit difficult but I love the crew we have.”

When asked about her favorite part of the show, she said “this show specifically had wonderful light cues, there’s a lot of them and they look so pretty, especially when Orpheus and Eurydice walk through the audience… that’s my favourite part of the show.”

As the show wrapped up on Sunday afternoon, the AQ theatre season came to an end, leaving students wondering what the coming season’s lineup will entail which will be announced at the end of April.