'Bluebeard's Castle'

Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents the American premiere of Bluebeard’s Castle, a dark musical thriller inspired by a medieval French fairy tale. Written and directed by Sofia Streisand and featuring music by Sergey Rubalsky and Artem Petaykin; lyrics by Elena Hanpira; and choreography by Irina Lyahovskaya, this horror-infused romance makes its English language debut following runs in Russia, Serbia, Montenegro and France. Performances take place at West L.A.’s Odyssey Theatre from November 1 through November 23, with a “special event” preview set for Halloween, on October 31.

The long years of war are over, and the towns and villages lie in ruins. The air is filled with the wails of widows and mothers in mourning, but also with the peal of wedding bells as a young girl is married off to a war hero with a wicked past — it’s rumored that his previous wives were killed or buried alive in his castle. Who would give a girl to be the bride of a monster? A tragic romance of deceit, murder, blood and forbidden chambers, it’s not a performance for the faint of heart.

“Bluebeard is a tale from the past that speaks urgently to the crises of today,” says Streisand. “The cycle of violence is endless and deeply destructive for all parties involved. Be it domestic abuse in the home or international conflict, there is never a winner.”

Bluebeard’s Castle features violence, gore and adult themes, and is recommended for ages 14 and up.

Performances take place on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. from November 1 through November 23, with one special Halloween preview set for Friday, Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40, except for the preview which is $20. A $3 fee will be added if purchasing with a credit card. There will be two Pay-What-You-Can performances, on Friday, Nov. 7 and Friday, Nov. 14. The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West Los Angeles, 90025.

For more information and to purchase tickets, call (310) 477-2055 or go to OdysseyTheatre.com.