by Alan Jozwiak
CCM Acting’s latest production of Antigone by Sophocles, with scene translation by Oliver Taplin, reminds me of the Peter Allen song, “Everything Old is New Again.”
Antigone is over 2,000 years old, but this production’s script really speaks to modern audiences. Moreover, it also finds newness in the material through language and music.
A Stellar Collaboration Among Multiple UC Departments
Ancient Greek drama used choruses of actors to describe situations and comment on the action. CCM Acting paired up with UC Classics professor Dr. Anna Conser to train this chorus to speak and sing in ancient Greek (!) all the while dancing to the lyrics, in keeping with the traditional style of production of ancient Greek dramas. English translations of the Greek appear on monitors on either side of the stage.
As the chorus and some of the principal actors sing the original words of Sophocles in ancient Greek, they also sing to an original score by Ellen Harrison with prerecorded music by a small ensemble of CCM musicians led by conductor Aik Khan Pung.
This is a top-notch production steeped with talent from many UC students and faculty.
The Plot
Here’s a quick breakdow of the plot of Antigone. The city of Thebes has just ended a civil war which pits Antigone’s (Kiki Hellerman) brothers against one another. Both die. The ruler of Thebes and Antigone’s Uncle, Creon (Nikolai Gray), decrees that the one brother who fought for Thebes should be buried with honors. The other brother who tried to overthrow the city is left to be unburied.
This is a terrible thing in the ancient Greek world, since it meant that the dead person’s spirit could not enter Hades and would become a malicious spirit down here on earth.
Antigone violates the orders of Creon and buries her brother, arguing to her sister Ismene (Dinithi Kaushani) that the laws of the gods dictating burial supersede the laws of men (as seen by Creon’s order).
The Production
Directors Anna Conser, Brant Russell, and Samuel Stricklen have assembled a strong cast. Kiki Hellerman is strong both as Antigone and as the Messenger. I love her in the beginning of the show arguing with Ismene. It showcases the fire and passion which she brings to her role. (Coincidentally, I also sat next to her lovely father–always a boon at academic theatres.)
Similarly, Nikolai Gray played Creon as both hard-headed, somewhat manipulative, and truly crushed by the events of the play. It is this last scene when the full realization of the consequences of his actions hit him that Gray shows off the full range of his acting prowess.
Also strong are Dinithi Kaushani as Ismene, Victor Brame as Guard, and Dash Green as Haemon/Euridyce. Each has some great moments to shine on stage. Kaushani shows forth with her interrogation in front of Creon, showing the full range of fear, terror, and anger that the character possesses. Similarly, Green shows forth with a strong performance arguing against Creon for Antigone’s release.
Brame actually steals the show as Guard, providing plenty of wonderful laugh lines and perhaps one of the most famous lines from the play about nobody liking the bearer of bad news. Brame provides a degree of levity to an otherwise serious production and does it with a high degree of humanity.
Overall CCM’s Antigone is a Must-See
Overall, this production of Antigone is a lot more engaging than anticipated. I particularly loved hearing the classical music accompaniment to scenes. It truly enhances the action of the scene and heightens the emotional impact. It must be like what it was to see plays in the 19th century when you would have composers like Mendelssohn and Greig producing incidental music.
Bravo for CCM to take such a bold move. I hope they do more original scores in the future. It creates a beautiful synergy between CCM divisions that produces strong art.
With strong performances, an engaging and energetic Greek chorus, and a timeless script, Antigone is a must-see for those theater goers who like to venture beyond the realm of the ordinary. The message of the piece is one that is vitally important today.
Part of the beauty of this show is casting a large number of graduating seniors. What a wonderful way to send them off to whatever place they land post graduation–New York, Chicago, Los Angeles–or even Cincinnati itself.
CCM Acting’s Antigone runs from April 9-11. Click here for tickets.
Run Time: Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes without an intermission.
Editor’s Note: Here’s an article from UC about the collaboration, in preparation for over a year: CLICK HERE
Author’s Note: Antigone is one of my favorite stories, and was part of my recent reading group. If you love it as well, I recommend Seamus Heaney’s translation of Antigone called “The Burial at Thebes.” It is highly poetic and accessible.
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LCT reviews are edited by Liz Eichler, Stage Insights Chair and Member of American Theatre Critics Association
