2008 Woodie Awards
Antigone : a tragedy worth watching
Dilan Brown
Issue date: 2/15/06 Section: Life
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And in this stillness is performed the heavy work of the immortal Sophocles, Antigone. Antigone is the great tragic tale of when human and divine forces careen and collide and disperse an awful wake.
With two nights already wrapped up (10th, 11th), the Theatre/ Dance ISU production is nearly through, with three more performances coming this week (16th, 17th, 18th).
Antigone is the daughter of that eternal poster-boy of tragedy and sorrow, Oedipus (See marrying mother, killing father, gouging out one's own eyes). And it seems as though this godly misfortune has streamed into another generation.
The play begins with Polynices and his brother Eteocles having fought and died for opposing forces in the battle for Thebes. The King of Thebes, Creon (Tito Livas), has thus permitted the burial of ally and nephew Eteocles while dishonoring Polynices, also his nephew, by forbidding his own funeral rites. The fervid Antigone (Bridget Close) pleads to her sister, Ismene (Natalie Keezer), to allow her to honor her fallen brother, Polynices, by rightfully entombing his body in the earth, therefore clearing his passage to the underworld. Ismene will not partake, and so the burial is completed by Antigone alone. When word of the secret burial finds Creon, by way of his strong-minded Sentinel (Kyle Anderson), it is demanded that the guilty be retrieved and swiftly snuffed for their trespassing. When the Sentinel returns with Antigone she is sentenced to die slowly and coldly entombed within the chilling recesses of a nearby cave.
The hub of complexity stirs wildly though, and soon appears Haemon (Josh Hurley), who is fiance of Antigone and son of Creon. He moves for his love's release, and challenges the word of father Creon, and there is much spittle and shouting and pulsating-red-faced-rage exchanged, but the crowned and eagle-crested-staff wielding Creon does not relent.
Soon enters the oxymoronic blind-seer Tiresias (Trent Clegg), who is led by hand by his young guide (Kip Stahlecker). He warns of the divine peril sure to ensue if he does not permit the release of Antigone and the proper burial of Polynices. Stirred, the neck-vein protruding Creon shoves the seer to the ground and sits contemplating solemnly as the haggard man mumbles his final warnings and leaves his quarters.
Creon soon wilts from what he has heard and appeals to his trusted senators who stand armored at either side of the throne. They tell him that it is not too late, that Antigone shall be set free, and Polynices buried, and all will be well. But soon word comes that the bodies of Antigone and Haemon have been discovered, lifeless, for they've taken their own lives. What's more, Eurydice (Tracey Mull, also in chorus), wife of Creon, disheartened by the bleak happenings, has also taken her life. When the lifeless bodies of Antigone and Haemon are laid at his feet the broken Creon is left to himself to wail to the gods his sorrows and pleas for his own rightful death. This is not granted and he is left to walk from his thrown, crownless, to embrace his actions, words, and consequence ever more. The play ends with the mournful Sentinel honorably placing a blanket upon the two bodies beneath him, and the lights dim and the tale of Antigone is through.
Though seat-tickets are sold out for the remaining shows, at 7 PM the night of the performances standing room tickets for the balcony overlooking the rotunda, will be selling, and if all seats are not occupied near curtains-up, those remaining empty may be filled by standing room guests. The remaining shows are the 16th, 17th, and 18th, all at 7:30pm, and the Stevens Performing Arts Center, in the Marshall Family Rotunda. For information call 282-3595.