Legendary

"Alright my brothers listen closely

Tonight, we make the Trojans pay

Ten years of war they killed us slowly

But now we’ll be the ones who slaaay!

Think of your wives and your children

Your families wonder where you’ve been!

They’re growing old and yet you’re still here,

Do what I say, and you’ll see them again!

YES SIR!"

-0-

To those of you not in the know, the above is the opening verse of “The Horse and the Infant”, the first song in the unparallelled concept albums for Epic the Musical created by Jorge (Spanish pronunciation) Rivera-Herrans.

For those who think, “this Alex guy sure likes to hear himself talk,” first of all: rude. Secondly: this is writing, not talking. Totally different. Third and most important: how did you know that? Have we met in the physical world where coffee and mac & cheese come from? But more importantly, fine, if you want to be like that. It’s damned good. Best bloody thing I’ve ever found on the internet. So, go watch it, follow the link.

There’s my recommendation. Philistines.

As for you, I want you to know that you specifically are my favourite reader. Not those other ones, just you. Yes, I mean it. You are my favourite and I’m writing this review for you and no one else. Because I care about you, and I want you to experience something incredible. I would never recommend something to my favourite reader that I wasn’t dead certain you would love.

So please, have a seat, make yourself something nice to drink (tea, coffee, hot water alone, hard liquor, I don’t judge. Well, that’s not true. But you’re my favourite and thus can do no wrong.) and let me tell you about a man who just wants to go home.

Hopefully you recall, being my favourite I’m certain you do, that I began this review with the first… stanza I think they’re called, of the first song in the currently ongoing Epic the Musical. It was created by Jorge (Spanish pronunciation) Rivera-Herrans and follows the story of Odysseus as shown in the Odyssey.

Beginning inside the famous Trojan horse where Odysseus outlines his plans for the Achaeans to finally break the decade long siege of Troy, the musical tells the story from that moment to our hero’s return to Ithaca. At least, I assume that the story will end in the same place, you see, this musical is still in the process of being released.

With the most recent Saga (Vengeance) being release near Halloween this past October we hope that the next one will release within the next few months.

Structurally, the musical is broken into the major points of Odysseus’s story; generally depending on the natural narrative breaks between magical encounters starting in the second Saga (Cyclops). Hopefully, in fact, not even hopefully, I know for certain you’ll understand why it’s called that, my favourite reader could never not know about Polyphemus. It’s not possible.

From the Troy Saga , to the Cyclops Saga, to the Ocean Saga, to the Circe Saga (which has one of the sexiest singers in human history in it by the way), to the Underworld Saga, to the Thunder Saga, to the Wisdom Saga, and now the Vengence Saga, this is one of the most spectacular pieces of creativity I have ever had the pleasure of consuming. I would call it perfect, if only every single song was released. Assuming that Jorge (Spanish pronunciation) can stick the landing, I legitimately think this will rival any other script and score for the best musical of our time.

Now, despite your being my favourite reader, I know that you are a busy person. Sadly, you might be thinking to yourself that you don’t have the time to listen to the whole thing. And, though disappointing, I understand. Of course, I do, you’re my favourite reader! How could I not understand that you have other things to do than simply listen to my recommendations all day?

To you, reader with too much to do and not enough time, I offer this solace: the individual songs max out at about 5 minutes and the longest Saga (Thunder) only has five songs. They are almost distressingly short, which just leads into my praise for the story. I WANT this musical to be longer. I want to be able to just sit in the world and with these characters more.

Every song is in a slightly different style, and each one is fully voice acted. Professional singers performing every part, and they are legitimately so skilled that I want more and more. I have, quite literally, been listening to this whole thing at least four times a week since I first heard it about a month ago. And individual songs (“Done For” in the Circe Saga is maybe the most attractive song I’ve ever heard) even more frequently than that.

Considering that every Saga is so short, every word must, logically, be used with the greatest care. And we, you and I because as my favourite reader our tastes are similar, feel the impact of every word. From a death precision crafted to be as painful as possible, to the departure of a divine friend, to the desperation and horror of the underworld, not a syllable of this story is wasted.

Despite the length of the entire story (I think it’ll be nearly 3 hours when it’s done), it might be one of the leanest, tightest stories I have ever consumed. The Odessey itself is a monster of a book, the same as the Iliad, and EPIC distills the essence of the story into a similar style as Homer himself might have used. The reason I say that, is that the epic poems are just that, poems. They exist in verse and, we have good reason to believe, would have involved music and singing, in addition to the epic verse itself.

In addition to the immaculate dialogue, the spell-binding vocals, and outstanding music, one further thing must be included in my recommendations for this musical. That being the skill demonstrated in subtle writing.

I include this as a distinct recommendation, my favourite reader, because it transcends the music, dialogue, and vocal performances. In fact, it is all of them and none of them.

From musical cues, to repeated refrains, to lyrics returning in the background or repeated in the main song, everything is reused. One thing that I, and I’m certain your tastes are refined enough to agree with me, find distasteful in most long form writing is when things don’t get brought up again. If someone important dies two seasons before, and they’re never mentioned again? I hate that. Mentioning no best boys (it’s a technical term) who die tragically, Epic the Musical wastes nothing.

Deaths have direct impacts on the story that are either referenced directly or indirectly constantly as the story continues. Final words are remembered, if only to drive home the lesson that… well… if you’ll indulge me, I’ll quote the line that I think best suits this. No spoilers.

“The line between,

Naivety, and hopefulness is almost invisible.

So close your heart,

The world is dark,

And Ruthlessness is *mercy* …

Die.”

The one lesson that Odysseus must learn is that Ruthlessness is mercy upon himself, is not, perhaps, one that is easily translated into the real world. But this is not a morality play, in accordance with the ancient myth our 'hero' must harden his heart and behave ruthlessly to get home. He must grow and change, suffer and go through seemingly endless physical and mental torments a the whims of the gods. And every time he tries to show mercy, he is punished brutally until he answers a question that he asks very early.

Until he finally knows “when does a comet become a meteor? When does a candle become a blaze? When does a man become a monster!?”

If my earnest, although admittedly limited quality, recommendation of this outstanding show has caught your interest, please let me know down below. If not, then you’re still my favourite, don’t worry, I won’t replace you. Though, I must say that I will be disappointed if you don’t at least give this musical an honest chance.

You’ll still be my favourite reader, never fear.

Unless you don’t think Circe has the sexiest voice of all time. In that case it’s pistols at dawn and I won’t need backup.