Review: Penelope, Belly Button at Underbelly

Filing into the Belly Button at Underbelly, Cowgate, soft sounds of sea waves are heard as Penelope (Grace McLean) wistfully looks around the room. The cabaret-style show lends itself well to the space, creating an intimate atmosphere. As the lights go down, composer and writer Alex Bechtel, who also plays the keys, and musicians Jonnie Grant (drums) and Anna MacLean (cello) take their places on stage alongside her. They launch into the song “Penelope”, where she introduces herself and explains that she has been waiting for Odysseus to come back home for twenty years. 

Given the recent attention surrounding Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey, it is perfect timing for Penelope to share her side of the story. Imparting Penelope’s perspective with wit and warmth, McLean does an excellent job of balancing humour and sadness in her performance. Her voice is strong, her tone is rich, and suits the material she is singing.

Setting the scene in the song “Drunk Iliad”, Penelope describes her insecurities about Helen’s beauty, the Trojan War, and its aftermath. She explains how Odysseus first courted Helen, and how “he shot for the gold but landed the silver instead”. This line is cleverly reinforced by her costume: McLean wears a white floaty dress with a silver sash and a silver wedding ring. As she lists off her grievances in the song, she humorously takes shot after shot.  

When conversing with the Goddess Athena, played by the musicians, who answer her questions as a chorus, Penelope begs her to tell her the truth about Odysseus and her son, Telemachus. She confirms that Telemachus is safe but is frustratingly vague about Odysseus, leading Penelope to shout in anger, “Is that it?”. McLean’s superb acting shines through when she repeats the line, but with utter despair. 

There is a variety of music; ballads are broken up by more jazzy numbers, such as “Lose My Mind”. In some songs, steady drum beats evoke the sound of going to war. The musical motifs in the opening number “Penelope” return when she sees Odysseus again in “Us”, bringing the show full circle. 

McLean’s Penelope dreams of escape, imagining herself abandoning Ithaca. While she fights off suitors, raises her son and waits for Odysseus to return, she openly and honestly tells the audience about her growing fears and the despair with the life she has been left to lead. Ultimately though, it is her strength that carries her through, which Bechtel writes so beautifully and McLean portrays so powerfully. Penelope gives a fresh, compelling, and well-deserved voice to the woman behind the myth. 

Music, Lyrics & Arrangements by Alex Bechtel
Book by Alex Bechtel, Grace McLean and Eva Steinmetz
Directed by Eva Steinmetz

Penelope plays at the Belly Button at Underbelly, Cowgate until Sunday 30 August