Olympus on My Mind
| Olympus on My Mind | |
|---|---|
| Music | Grant Sturiale |
| Lyrics | Barry Harman |
| Book | Barry Harman |
| Basis | play by Heinrich Von Kleist Amphitryon |
| Productions | 1986 Off Broadway 1988 Fairfield, Connecticut |
Olympus On My Mind is a musical with music by Grant Sturiale and a book and lyrics by Barry Harman, based on a play by Heinrich Von Kleist. The musical ran Off-Broadway at Lamb's Theatre for 297 performances in 1986. It was also staged that year in a regional production in Fairfield, Connecticut by the Boston Post Road Stage Company.
The show is set in Thebes in ancient Greek times. Jupiter is bored with life on Mount Olympus and decides to have an affair with a mortal woman, which turns out to be the beneficent Princess Alcmene. However, she is happily married to General Amphitryon, who is away fighting battles. Jupiter concocts a plan to disguise himself as the General, but when Alcmene first meets the new general she is apprehensive. Jupiter wins her over with a depiction of the enchanted evening that awaits her.
Mercury, Jupiter's son, has accompanied him to Earth, but he turns out to be useless when Jupiter wants to know the result of the battle with Sparta. Dolores, a member of the chorus, is left to find out.
Sosia, one of the General's slaves, arrives back home, happy to be alive after the years he spent fighting in the wars. Mercury, however, has assumed his identity, so he is not welcome. Sosia leaves just as Jupiter comes out from the palace, after his night with the Princess. Due to the fact this was Jupiter's first time as a human, he starts to feel human emotions. Anxiety fills him, wondering if Alcmene loves him. He asks her, but he is disappointed to learn she has spent the night with a charlatan. Mercury advises his father to give the Princess time, and eventually she will be cognizant of the truth.
The General is looking forward to reuniting with his wife. En route home, he encounters Sosia, who tells him he was barred from the house by, none other than the imposter General. Once at home, the general is perturbed by his wife's unfeeling greeting. He is astounded to learn he spent an enchanted, passionate reunion the night before. Angered, the General accuses the Princess of adultery. He storms out, while his wife is crying and still claiming innocence. Sosia too is reuniting with his wife nagging wife, Charis. He too is astounded by his wife's actions, when he discovers her going out for a night on the town. She contends that he gave her permission (it was actually Mercury in disguise). Thinking it over, she contemplates if the man last night was an impostor.
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