Echo
December 8th-December 13th

Performance Check Productions Inc.
Amber Weissert: Writer
Yvonne Jessica Pruitt: Director
Tatiana Birenbaum: Choreographer
Jimmy Lancaster: Producer
Claudia Cromley: Producer

Echo is a retelling of the Greek Myth of Echo and Narcissus. A story of greed, pain, loss, and
perseverance. Our retelling is done through an emphasis on the female experience, heightened text, and modern dance. At the crossroads of Shakespeare, Greek text, and Sarah Ruhl's poetry; you will find Echo.

Echo and her sisters serve the God of Gods, Zeus, in his lustful wants. But when a jealous Hera arrives looking for her husband, Echo is caught in the crossfire. Hera discovers her husband and Echo’s deceit.
Echo is cursed while her sisters are subject to the mercy of Hera. Now only being able to speak the last words spoken to, Echo thinks she finds a way to break out of her life when she meets Narcissus. Narcissus, the child of the River God Cephissus and a Water Nymph Liriope, knows he is the want ofall the women in his village and the envy of his fellow hunters, yet none of them are worthy enough for
him. None more than his close friend, Ameinias, who does everything in his power to gain Narcissus’ affection and enables his harmful behavior.

When Echo and Narcissus meet, Echo believes she has found her true love, while Narcissus sees a way to show everyone how changed he is by love. Soon the disguise of sweet love turns sickly, and Echo finds herself trapped in a place far worse than when she started. Ameinias’ jealousy grows to the point of no return, making the ultimate sacrifice to set his heart free. When all hope is almost lost, the Goddess of Revenge, Nemesis, settles the score. Narcissus turns his behavior onto Echo, blaming her for all of his
misfortune and eventually discarding her from his life. The damage that Narcissus has caused is too much without retribution. Nemesis curses Narcissus to fall in love with the next living thing he sets eyes on. As he reaches in a pond and sees himself, he falls in love with his reflection and withers away along the pond. All that’s left in his place is a daffodil. Echo, heartbroken cannot release herself from her love of Narcissus as she is reduced but the repeating words of those around her. In the end, as her life comes to an end, she sees the beauty of life around her and the footsteps of the women she has walked in and
the women who will walk in hers.

Content Warning: Domestic Violence, Suicide and Sexual assault