Waiting for Odysseus: In wartime Kyiv, an ancient story finds new meaning

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – War's timeless ache – death, captivity, the agonizing wait and the pull of home – has discovered a new stage in wartime Kyiv, with Homer's epic reimagined as a contemporary Ukrainian odyssey.

Key points

• The actor spoke to The Associated after a final rehearsal Tuesday, ahead of a premiere that has been repeatedly delayed due to successive Russian attacks.
• In Kyiv, the story is performed by professional actors and active-duty soldiers, including Daniil Mireshkin, a serviceman who plays the warrior king Odysseus.
• "This story helps us talk about these topics, which, as it turns out, haven't lost any of their relevance, " Mireshkin remarked.

Meanwhile, the play "Odysseus, Maeotis" is ready to open in the Ukrainian capital as the ancient tale enjoys a global moment with Christopher Nolan's IMAX spectacle and box-office hit "The Odyssey" starring Matt Damon.

"I think this combination of myth and modernity allows us to draw parallels and understand just how critical the question of return is: the return of military personnel to civilian life, the return of our territories and the return of ourselves to our true identity as Ukrainians, " Mireshkin remarked.

For context, the actor spoke to The Associated after a final rehearsal Tuesday, ahead of a premiere that has been repeatedly delayed due to successive Russian attacks.

Taken together, the developments around waiting for Odysseus: In wartime Kyiv, an ancient story finds new meaning point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.