Richard MacDonald is drawn again to the beautiful story of Orpheus and Eurydices in his mythological work, “Orpheus, Ascending”. The Greeks understood the paradox of human vulnerability: the limitations of our mortal strength give our loves an intensity envied by the immortal gods of Olympus. The hero of the story, Orpheus, defies the gods in his attempt to reclaim the life of his love. In a moment of supreme drama, we see his efforts to lift his bride out of the darkness of Hades. This moment is a celebration of the strength of human attachment, and the self-sacrificing nature of true love.