SF Chronicle’s highest rating EURYDICE written by Sarah Ruhl directed by Les Waters October 15–November 21, 2004 Thrust Stage WEST COAST PREMIERE running time: 90 minutes, no intermission The tragic story of Orpheus and Eurydice is a cornerstone of western mythology: shortly after her marriage to the musician Orpheus, Eurydice is fatally bitten by a snake and sent to the underworld, leaving her young husband behind to grieve. Seducing Hades, the lord of the underworld, with his beautiful music, Orpheus strikes a deal that will allow him to bring Eurydice back to life—as long as Orpheus does not look back until they have left the underworld. Reimagining this classic text from Eurydice’s point of view, with contemporary characters and ingenious twists, Sarah Ruhl’s award-winning play is a truly original tale. Ruhl’s lyrical writing and poetic imagery have marked her as a young playwright on the rise, talents confirmed by Eurydice, on which the age-old theme of “love and loss” takes on a whole new meaning.