Opera looks at Medusa as a victim of the gods

“Medusa”

Storm

(Tin Idol Productions)

Medusa as victim rather than monstrous villain — that’s the premise of the latest rock opera from Gerard K. Gonsalves and Tin Idol Productions. Sandy “Storm” Essman stars in the title role with Darren Soliven as narrator. Kevin Jones (Perseus), Ka‘imi Hanano‘eau (Poseidon) and Margaret Ransdell Green (Athena) sing the three other characters.

At first glance it seems Gonsalves is doing to Greek mythology what the creators of “Wicked” did to “The Wizard of Oz” in creating a sympathetic back story for a character originally written as a villain. In the standard version of the story, Medusa is a gorgon, a monster with a woman’s body, venomous snakes growing out of her head instead of hair, and a face so hideous that anyone who looks at it turns to stone.

In this version of the story, Medusa is a beautiful woman who is raped by Poseidon in the Parthenon, incurring the wrath of Athena. Athena’s revenge is changing Medusa into a gorgon and banishing her to a small island for life. Yes, Athena punishes the victim. (Gonsalves’ libretto is based on a Roman version of the story by the poet Ovid).

The vocalists perform with searing intensity — Essman and Jones in particular. The dark and ominous goth rock sound of previous Tin Idol recordings comes through full force as well.

The first live performance of “Medusa,” Wednesday at Kumu Kahua Theatre, is sold out. Another should follow in a larger venue.

Visit reverbnation.com/storm808.