Odyssey, Live! - Fall, 2010 Grant
Follow-up by Dr. Lisa Melanson, English Department and Achievement Center
On behalf of fellow sophomore English teachers, Erika Blauch, Sarah Ward, and Karen Lamb, I would like to thank CEEF for awarding a grant to support the storytelling performance of a seminal work of western literature: Homer’s The Odyssey.
On December 10, 2010, Storyteller Sebastian Lockwood performed his “Odyssey, Live!” for the sophomore class in the Cape Elizabeth High School auditorium. My hope was that an oral rendition of Homer’s epic would complement and enhance the English curriculum. I am pleased to report that the event surpassed my expectations. The performance ran for approximately an hour and 15 minutes. In addition, there was a 45-minute “talk back” with the audience that proved as interesting as the storytelling, with Mr. Lockwood fielding questions from students about memory, storytelling, and biographical experiences that inform his art. Afterward, students completed written responses to the questions, “ What was your favorite part of the performance and why? and “How did seeing a live performance of The Odyssey differ from reading it in class?” Their answers are articulate and thought-provoking. They speak to what is at the heart of literacy: making meaningful connections to a text. Here is a sampling of their responses:
“I loved how easily Sebastian fit into all the characters in the Odyssey. He did this without it feeling forced--no big costume changes and whatnot. This, to me, made the presentation seem more real, and allowed me to envision it in my head because of the minimal costumes and set. I can see what he meant when he explained that people enter a story trance when watching him perform, because the images are actually formed in the mind.”--Lauren Steidl
“My favorite part was the Nausicaa scene. I liked it because it conveys the beauty of Homer’s writing and the tenderness of Odysseus. In a story largely centered on the overcoming of heroic tasks, to see Odysseus interact with other human beings is refreshing. Mr. Lockwood did an excellent job portraying this scene and made the scene come alive.”--Daniel Epstein
“As a storyteller (on the Cape Speech team), I felt that not only was this performance a wonderful way to learn about the Odyssey, but I also learned quite a lot about storytelling, as well. There was a lot about his performance that AMAZED me! Just the fact that he held our attention for over an hour with a mere story is practically a miracle! It’s hard to find a favorite part, but I loved how he used certain tones for each character. It was like a verbal epithet! I felt like that really captured Homer’s style.”--E.B. Coughlin
“My favorite part of the performance was when he returned to Ithaca and he acted out the fighting scene. His energy that he put into that part of the performance made it so much more interesting. Also it showed his true passion for storytelling when he yelled Athena every time he said her name, it was like he was actually calling for her. Overall I found this performance very interesting. I also loved the question portion because he really opened my eyes to the ideas behind memory...He was a very good storyteller and I am very happy that we had him come in.”--Marlo Dell’Aquila
“My favorite part of this play occurred when Odysseus encountered Polyphemus. Mr. Lockwood described this meeting between Odysseus and Polyphemus as a fracas from the beginning. His expression while performing this part was amazing. I had an accurate description of Polyphemus devouring Odysseus’ crew. I never realized how Polyphemus felt after realizing that people intruded on his dwelling. He seemed to make fake emotions come to life. His description of the men being eaten made me cringe because I could picture it so well in my mind.”--Alex Silva
“Seeing a live performance of the Odyssey differed greatly from reading the actual book. In the performance you could see the human emotion of the characters a lot easier, which helps you understand the tone a lot better. Also when the storyteller adds in modern day comparisons to what's happening in the scene it helps you relate and make more sense of the scene. Also, in the book it can be confusing who are the characters that are speaking, so in the performance the storyteller uses different voices and body language for different characters. Overall the performance is more visual, which helps you learn the story easier.”--Natalie Underdown
“My favorite parts were the small tangents that he went on, like explaining the wine that Polyphemus drank. Along with the other ‘additions’ the story became much more enjoyable. Besides being shorter the live performance simply made the story easier to understand. It was also more entertaining. With a book, the translation can be hard to understand but a performer would likely make changes that would allow him/her to better tell the story.”--Sam Davis
“Seeing a live performance of The Odyssey helped to inject more emotion than the book did. I think because our reader was so enthusiastic with his different tones and the level of his voice, the emotions of the book were more palpable. The live performance also helped me visualize the book. With his hand gestures and movements, along with his speaking, Mr. Lockwood helped me see what was happening better than the book did.”--Henry Babcock
“Having now seen the performance, I can now picture the Odyssey books 5 - the end. Also, because The Odyssey is a story meant to be told aloud, the performance emphasized that piece of the experience.”--Caroline Gleason
“My favorite part was probably when Odysseus returns home and strings the bow and then shoots it through all 12 rings. I liked this part the most because it was the moment when everyone realized Odysseus was back.”--Xander Schonewolf
“It’s live. The ability to imagine what the eye can read all of a sudden becomes even more connectible by its second sensory connection through the ears. AKA what I’m trying to say is that you immerse yourself better during a live performance.”--Sam Barksdale
“My favorite part was when the storyteller descried the encounter with Polyphemus. This was also my favorite part in the book as well but it was interesting to see it acted out. This was my favorite part because there was a lot of action and Odysseus used a lot of his wits to escape. I wish the storyteller went more in depth into that part.”--Ryan Allmendinger
“My favorite part of the performance was the part about Odysseus and the Cyclops. The storyteller did a great job of showing Odysseus’ personality and his perspective of the ruthlessness of the Cyclops. Also, the performer simplified the words so it created a dramatic theatrical performance of Odysseus blinding the Cyclops. This was very entertaining and also memorable...When reading the Odyssey, there is so much information to read that it is not always clear what has actually occurred. However, the live performance made the story clearer by the expression, changes in voice, and acting out of the story”--Allie Briggs
“I also enjoyed how he used the mic whenever the gods were talking to show their power and importance...Reading it in class was somewhat difficult, I was never able to visualize the story. The play not only cleared up what I did not understand but it also made it kind of come alive.”--Chad Peterson
“Seeing a live performance of The Odyssey offered me a visual look at the story rather than reading it. My imagination is poor, so seeing things visually helps give a better sense of the book. I also think that seeing a live performance made the book seem less boring and more interesting. With a storyteller on stage, I was able to actually understand the book more deeply, as I am an oral learner.”--Seth Dobieski
“My favorite part of the performance, overall, was when he used his facial expressions to portray the emotions in every character. I loved every part of the performance because I am a very visual person. I sometimes have a hard time catching sarcasm or different types of emotion while reading books. I love how I understand the characters more just by seeing the performers face and actions.--Ana Kouros
“It cleared up quite a bit, because he went in order through the story and avoided skipping too many parts. I learn better hearing about things than reading them.”--Evan Long
“My favorite part of the performance was probably the scene when Odysseus is swept upon the Phaeacian coast. Mr. Lockwood showed a lot of passion and emotion when portraying this scene. The detailed description of Poseidon churning the sea and bringing all the winds together is amazing. It also showed how Odysseus struggled for his life. A good analogy was given with octopus clinging to a rock was the same as Odysseus with his flesh ripping from the shore. Seeing a live performance allows the viewer to immerse themselves in the story. Instead of just reading you can picture the story in your mind more clearly. The liveliness of the performance also makes it as if you yourself are in the story. There is more emotion and you can feel the anguish or happiness that the characters feel. Literary devices described in the book can also be described with a better explanation (it seems more real).”--Ali Mohamedi
“My favorite part of the performance was the discussion between Zeus and Athena. The actor always said Athena like “ATHENA!!!” It was quite funny. Also, when he (Athena) was talking to Zeus, he called Zeus daddy. It was funny because it is kind of playing off the rich girl whose bills are paid by “daddy.” It reminds me of Paris Hilton and her endless money and power. The actor added some present day “flair,” such as the MacDonald’s reference. He also put such life into his words, unlike the students reading the book aloud. The actor also made his lines very sardonic. The only downside of this performance was he had to skip over some stuff because he was crunched for time.”--Zach Hillman
“My favorite part of the performance was when he told us about some of his life experiences after he told the story of Odysseus. I liked the story of when he raised an owl when he was a young boy and how he explained that story telling has improved his memory. Seeing a live performance gave me something visual to relate the text to which helps to better remember/recall stories from the Odyssey.”--Michaela Forde
“My favorite part was the owl story, it was creative, dreamlike, and inspiring. It reminded me of Harry Potter.”--Justin Cary
“The true story about the owl, it showed how the skill of story telling doesn’t just apply to the stories he tells professionally but in all life situations as well.”--Hannah Dineen
“My favorite part of the performance was the scene where Odysseus killed the suitors. I liked this part of the performance because he made it very exciting and made cool sound effects. In class reading the Odyssey can get a bit boring, however, when performed live it becomes real, and it becomes exciting.”--Jake Lynch
“My favorite part was the performer’s energy. When I’m reading, I can picture everything and I didn’t think I would be able to with a one man show. The props and his vibrant energy made me feel as if I was in the story. I also enjoyed the questions and answers because he seemed like a very interesting person. His discussion on his memorization was very interesting. I don’t know if I would ever be able to memorize humorous stories.”--Deedee Curran
“My favorite part of the performance was when the man talked about Odysseus winding up on the island where the girls were cleaning their clothes in the river. We didn’t read this passage in class, but his reading at the event gave me the Homeric sensation of reading it. The poetry, it seemed, was just as Homer must have written it in The Odyssey.”--Matt Gilman