In Greek mythology, Antigone was a courageous Theban princess, the daughter of King Oedipus and Jocasta. She is best known from the famous play Antigone by Sophocles for defying her uncle King Creon, choosing divine law over human rules.
However, if you’re looking for a show about the ‘original’ Antigone and other Greek gods, this show is probably not the one for you. This retelling of Sophocles’ tragedy is set in Thebes, California more than a century later.
This modern take of the original uses the amazing talent of these singers to tell a story of activism, greed, and survival in not only Ancient Greece, but a modern world too, with levels being used as a staging technique to show not only height but hierarchy
The true highlight of this show is its costuming; from the Greek goddesses’ gorgeous white gowns with gold detailing to the baseball cap and motorcycle jacket of gay activist Nikolas, the costuming is the binding that makes this show unique and allows the storyline to connect with the audience while keeping some pieces of the original play.
In this show we, the audience, are the townspeople being called upon to witness the inequity and to join the resistance against the Governor -this even included the passing out of wanted posters! However, the set left most of the town hall scenery up to the imagination.
This show is great fun if you’re looking for a fresh take on an old classic but may not be the best if you’re revising for a history exam!
Antigone 1989: A Town Hall Musical, 15:05, Gilded Balloon Patter House, August 5 – 29 (not 17th, 24th)
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/antigone-1989-a-town-hall-musical
