Bronagh Slevin

I was lucky to see Il Ciclope at the Greek amphitheatre in Tindari, Euripides’ satirical parody of the Polyphemus episode in the Odyssey. This version, directed by Angelo Campolo, with only the suspended eyeball as scenery, managed to evoke empathy for the cyclops. At the end, to the satyrs’ delirious chant “Nobody has killed the cyclops”, we’re left uncertain whether to side with Ulysses – whose huge ego can’t prevent him from blurting out his real name as he escapes – or the blinded cyclops, alone on the stage.

A pitch perfect lesson in perspective … as the sun went down behind the Aeolian islands – said to be the rocks the giant hurled at Ulysses’ departing ship.