'Antigone' runs through Nov. 15

Former drama department chair Ric Slocum has returned to direct the fall production of "Antigone," presented by OLLU, together with the 24th Street Players. “Antigone” opens on Nov. 5 in Thiry Auditorium.

Slocum said this version of "Antigone" takes somewhat of a satirical approach to the play, which was first performed in Paris in the early 1940s and is based on the Greek tragedy of the same name. The plot center on the title character’s determination to give her brother a proper burial despite threats from Creon, king of Thebes.  The play’s satirical attitude to the Oedipus story will likely produce diverse reactions in the audience, which is perfectly acceptable, Slocum said.

“Antigone is a noble heroine; her deed heroic,” he said.  “We are free to laugh or cry at any or all of it.  Antigone's action may move us to tears of joy or ironic laughter. In the end who is right? Antigone or Creon?”

Slocum said the production presented a challenge from the start because the playwright, Jean Anouilh, states that the play is set in no particular time or place.  As a result, Slocum said he used German playwright Bertolt Brecht's theatrical trick of “making strange” and placed the action for OLLU’s production “somewhere in the Middle East” during modern times.

“The idea is to make the action seem a bit removed and to encourage the audience to feel superior and judgmental,” Slocum said.  “Perhaps a nicer way of saying it is that I want to encourage the audience to take sides.”


PHOTOS: (At right) Director Ric Slocum (in orange, far right) directs actors Ian Bunn (center) and Paul Singletary (left). 
(At left) Helga Rodriguez (left in orange) and April Gomez practice a scene from "Antigone."

SHOW DETAILS

All performances are in Thiry Auditorium.

FREE admission for OLLU Students, Faculty, Staff and Alumni.

DATES:

• Nov. 5: 8 p.m.
• Nov. 6: NO PERFORMANCE
• Nov. 7: 8 p.m.
• Nov. 8: 2 p.m.
• Nov. 12: 8 p.m.
• Nov. 13: 8 p.m.
• Nov. 14: 8 p.m.
• Nov. 15: 2 p.m.