May 08

Plague and Pestilence are the Same Thing, Really: “Oedipus the King

Image via https://www.facebook.com/TheaterOfWar

Oedipus the King
Presented by Theater of War Productions, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and Brooklyn Public Library.
Written by Sophocles
Translated, directed and facilitated by Bryan Doerries, artistic director

Thursday, May 7, 2020, @ 7PM
A Virtual, Free Event Via Zoom

Critique by Kitty Drexel

New York City — “This translation is bananas,” said my Thursday night viewing companion in response to Bryan Doerries’ translation of Oedipus the King presented by Theatre of War Productions on May 7. Indeed, Doerries’ colloquialized translation of Oedipus was nontraditional. Thursday night’s live performance in three parts maneuvered the classical text between conventional expectation and contemporary acting styles. Sometimes it successfully drew parallels from Ancient Greece (429 B.C.E) to modern culture. Other times, modern vernacular against the theatre practices of Ancient Greece. Continue reading