I love stories where the conventional version is questioned, reexamined, or flipped on its head. I also love stories where a women’s narrative is reclaimed or seen in a different light. This might be because I saw Wicked at a very formative age, but I digress. I also love Greek mythology and that whole pantheon of stories, and I love musicals. So I think it was inevitable that I was going to love God Catcher, a new musical currently playing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
God Catcher tells the story of Arachne, the most talented weaver in Ancient Greece, who famously is the only mortal in Greek mythology to have ever bested a God. As punishment for this achievement, she was turned into the first spider by Athena. Because there’s always a price when dealing with the Gods.
Arachne is often portrayed as a boastful mortal, whose punishment was deserved due to her hubris. But what is the true story when dealing with a vengeful God? How do the power dynamics at play affect how the story is told? These questions are at the heart of God Catcher, and I am absolutely here for it. This show was both thought-provoking and fun, and the music was beautiful. The stage was tiny for the number of cast members it had to fit, but that only served to further amplify their voices, all of which were fantastic. If you’re in Edinburgh this month, I highly recommend you check out God Catcher. Hopefully next time around it will be on a bigger stage.
Suggestions for artists I should check out? Please contact me with your ideas. I hope you enjoyed your daily helping of art!
