|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oedipus at
Colonus by 6th @ Penn Theatre Last fall 6th @ Penn Theatre and local playwright and classicist Dr. Marianne McDonald presented us with a moving production of Oedipus Tyrannus – one of the most celebrated works of all literature telling the story of one of the most intriguing characters in literature. This proud, young, but cursed king of Thebes discovers that he has unknowingly murdered his father and married his mother. Devastated and ashamed, Oedipus abdicates his throne and flees Thebes to live by himself in disgrace. 6th @ Penn and Dr. McDonald have teamed up for Sophocles’ Oedipus at Colonus which begins decades later when Oedipus (Jack Banning) is an old man at the doorstep of death. Accompanied by his daughter Antigone (Beth Bayless), he pleads with the king of Athens to let him die in peace there, promising blessings on Athens for the kindness it shows him and curses on the city of Thebes that ran him out and forced him to live a miserable life of destitution for crimes that he now sees were not truly his fault. But his relatives in Thebes want to bring him back forcibly for purely selfish reasons, forcing Athens to choose how far it will go to give Oedipus a peaceful death in their city. This last chapter of Oedipus’s life is more of a philosophical study, lacking the compelling storyline of Oedipus Tyrannus, but providing closure and an intriguing glimpse into the thoughts of this extraordinary character who suffered so much at the hands of the gods and then at the hands of men. Oedipus is able to look back on his life and see things more clearly than he did in his youth, criticizing and cursing those who continued to wrong him, and lavishing blessings and love on those who were helpful and faithful. Jack Banning gives an impassioned performance as the dying king filled with such intense emotions. The scene in which he curses his son Polynices (Jim Chovik) who begs him for help in retaking Thebes (after doing nothing for Oedipus for so long) is especially moving. Other good performances include the lovely Beth Bayless as his faithful and nurturing daughter Antigone, Robin Christ as his sympathetic and emotional daughter Ismene, Von Schauer as the fair-minded king of Athens, and Joe Nesnow as the ruler of Thebes who tries to use political spin to convince Athens that he is just trying to do the right thing for everyone by kidnapping Oedipus back to Thebes.Production runs through April 25, 2004.
Rob Hopper ~ Cast ~
Oedipus: Jack Banning Antigone: Beth Bayless Ismene: Robin Christ Creon: Joe Nesnow Polynices: Jim Chovik Theseus: Von Schauer Chorus: Michael Moerman George Soete Gerard Maxwell Michael York Marcus Netherton Director: George Ye Translator: Dr. Marianne McDonald Dramaturg: Douglas Easterly Set Design: Matt Scott Lighting Design: Eric Lotze Costume Design: Shulamit Nelson |
