Growing up my dad filled our minds with the stories of ancient worlds. My dad, ever the writer and poet, has always been in love with stories, myths, poetry and literature. He instilled that love in my sisters and I. The stories of Ancient Greece and Rome, and of course, Egypt, were some of the highlights of my childhood and my education. Epic myths with timeless lessons and reflections. In my search for my first play here at Marshall, I wanted to find a piece where I could share my love of craft and the arts with my students and the community. Where I could convey how the layered and complex intricacies of a piece of theatre can be expressed through a variety of forms. I wanted my students to be as in love with this craft, this art form, as I am. I wanted them to search within themselves and beyond themselves, to play in the depths of every story, of every character and breathe life into these stories. And so, on a long bus ride to New York City, I read Metamorphoses. A play by the American playwright and director Mary Zimmerman, adapted from the classic poem of the same name by the Roman poet, Ovid. The poem dates back to 8 CE and chronicles “the history of the world from its Creation to the deification of Julius Caesar in a mythico-historical framework comprising of over 250 myths, 15 books, and 11,995 lines.” In our play, Zimmerman creates a “poetic bridge between myth and modernism,” by fusing the Ancient Greek and Roman with modern American culture. The theme and central idea, which I was most attracted to is the concept of change that exists throughout the play.
To “metamorphose” is a recurring theme in the play with some epic change, transformation, or some altering discovery made in each story. This theme of change is often expressed in the play with the usage of water. Sometimes with a pool at the heart of the stage, and occasionally with scenic elements symbolic of water. Characters move through the water and leave as they are transformed. Water, the most diverse and varied of the elements, is used for different functions throughout Metamorphoses. “According to David Ostling, Zimmerman's scenic designer, "She was looking for the changing ability of water, the instantaneous nature of it, how it could go from still to violent and back to calm.”The play also examines the causes of change in a person. What can make a person become something completely different? The most frequent cause throughout Metamorphoses is love. At the same time, we are warned of what happens when love is ignored. When Erysichthon cuts down a sacred tree, showing that he loves only himself, he is transformed into a man consumed by hunger. When the beautiful Myrrha scorns the love of her suitors, the goddess Aphrodite curses her to love what is forbidden and wrong. In the play the gods partake in transforming many characters to ease their grief, to relieve their sadness, to punish them, to celebrate their love. Zimmerman has said that "[Metamorphoses] makes it easy to enter the heart and to believe in greater change as well... that we all can transform."
Change. It goes without mentioning that to “metamorphose” is a recurring and unavoidable theme in life. We have had a great few months of change and metamorphoses here at Marshall. Stepping in as the new director of Statesmen Theatre has been nothing short of a beautiful whirlwind. Being able to watch how our students learn, cope with change, embrace it, has been inspiring and incredibly moving. I am so grateful for the grace and patience many of my students have so generously shared with me. It has been an incredibly joyous opportunity to be able to collaborate, teach, and be taught by my colleagues, my mentors, the community, and my extraordinary students. I want to thank my students deeply. For weathering every storm, for finding solutions instead of expanding on the problems, for welcoming me so warmly, and for embracing the change and embracing me. I want to thank the extraordinary admin here at Marshall for their love and support of the arts. Our Statesmen Theatre Boosters, especially our amazing board members, who have perhaps swam through more turbulent waters behind the scenes, but still maintained their trust in me. The Fine and Performing Arts Departments who have been so warm, loving, and supportive these first few months. They inspire me daily! My mentors and dear friends, Ms. Tiffany Powell, Ms. Samantha Jalajel, Ms. Vanessa Gelinas, Mr. Bernie Deleo, and Ms. Mary Lecter. Thank you for always talking me through the hard parts, helping me to understand the intricacies of this wonderful thing we do, trusting and believing in me, and for not judging me along the way. Thank you also to the wonderful FCPS TADA family, and all the amazing directors and students I’ve worked with in the county and neighboring counties who have come to support the show, sent their love, sent words of wisdom and encouragement along the way which I will always cherish. To my friends who have backed me up without question since day one, and who stand by me no matter what, thank you for lifting me up. Lastly, to the keepers of my heart my family. Thank you for weathering the storms with me, for your endless support and love. For helping me to see the light in every situation and valuing hard work and ethics, process over product, and for standing by me no matter the dream being chased, or the journey being pursued. I hope you all enjoy this beautiful piece of theatre. I hope you are able to experience your own beautiful metamorphoses.
With Love, and Gratitude,
Ahmad Maaty.
