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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: 16 October 2007 SUBJECT: The Good Hope School Presents Antigone by Jean Anouilh
Today, The Good Hope School today announced Antigone as their fall drama production. In 1944, Jean Anouilh, a celebrated French playwright, updated this ancient Greek tragedy originally composed by Sophocles. Anouilh's version is set during modern times and was first performed in Paris during the Nazi occupation of France. The story pivots around the conflict between Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus, and Creon, the King of Thebes. During a political uprising Antigone's brothers, Polynices and Eteocles, slew each other in battle. One of the brothers, Polynices, is decreed a traitor, and King Creon refuses him a proper burial. Antigone is outraged by this injustice and defies the King despite his proclamation that anyone disobeying his orders will be put to death. Although the play is open to a variety of interpretations, some commentators have suggested that the character of Antigone represents the French resistance movement and King Creon the Nazi collaborators. This reading of the play is simplistic, however, because Anouilh presents his moral themes in shades of grey, forcing the audience to measure the ethical appeal of Antigone's idealism against the social benefits of King Creon's law-and-order pragmatism. The play leaves the audience pondering the difficulty of balancing moral ideals with practical necessities. The production will be held at The James C. Savage Theater at The Good Hope School, opening on Thursday, November 15 at 8 p.m. Additonal performances are scheduled for Friday, November 16 and Saturday, November 17 8 p.m. A matinee will be held on Sunday, November 18 4 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door for $5 for students of any St. Croix school and $10 for adults. This year's production is directed by Ned Washburn, Good Hope's Upper School English teacher, and set design is by Jan Hart, Manager of The James C. Savage Theater. Cast of Characters includes: Prologue, Mary Cromwell '08; Creon, King of Thebes, Biko Robb-Joseph '10; Antigone, his niece, Stephanie Thompson '08; Ismene, sister of Antigone, Julia Kimble '10; Haemon, son of Creon, Kristian Fennessy '10; Nurse, Kaitlyn Allen '11; Chorus, Carisma Bishop '11; Messenger, Theo Mongeau '10; Jonas, first guard, Joey Lee '10; second guard, Alex Taras '10; Snout, third guard, Joel Buckley '09; Eurydice, Queen of Thebes, Stefanie Hurtault '08; and Page, Lauren Lewis '09. ### |
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