Antigone Revisited

GAMBIER, Ohio (January 28, 2011)

A modern-language version of the ancient Greek tragedy Antigone, translated into English by director Ben Viccellio '98, comes to Kenyon's main stage on February 3-5.

The Department of Dance and Drama production plays at 8:00 p.m. all three nights at Bolton Theater.

A dynamic group of students and faculty, including a cast of twenty-five and a production team of twenty-two, has worked on the production since November. Viccellio, assistant professor of drama, adapted the script from the original by Sophocles, drawing from various versions of the play. The play describes Antigone's struggle to rightfully bury the body of her condemned brother, Polyneices, and it poses questions of pride and morality.

"For me it certainly has more of an appeal than the other versions I've come into contact with," said student stage manager Brianna Parry '11 of Golden Valley, Minnesota. "There is never a sense that you're viewing or, rather, suffering through an ancient Greek tragedy with little relevance to today's world."

Parry also emphasized the unique role of the chorus, which is on stage for the entire play. Chorus members have worked with Viccellio and Kora Radella, visiting assistant professor of dance, to create expressive movement that helps deepen the meaning of the text. Vicellio has challenged each cast member to think about their own viewpoints on spatial relationship, tempo, repetition and kinesthetic response.

The cast includes Emma Farnsworth '11 of Fort Wayne, Indiana, as Antigone; Professor of Drama Jon Tazewell as Creon; Jack Dwyer '12 of Wheaton, Illinois, as Teiresias; Shelley Fort '11 of Gambier as Ismene; and Harry Hanson '13 of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as Haemon. Kayleigh Truman '11 of Schenectady, New York, designed the set. Other aspects of the production draw on the work of Kenyon art and music students, including Sarah Dowling '11 of Chatham, New Jersey, who painted the set, and members of the a cappella group Colla Voce, who composed original music.

Tickets are available at the door and can be reserved by calling the box office at 740-427-5546. Prices include $5 for general admission; $2.50 for groups; $2 for seniors, non-Kenyon students and children; $1 for Kenyon students.