'Antigone' Takes the Stage at Greeley

The curtain rose on opening night to reveal a perfectly ordinary cast of characters at Horace Greeley High School. One was knitting while others were playing cards. However, this group was anything but ordinary, as they were players in "Antigone."

Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus, the king of Thebes in Greek mythology. The original play entitled "Antigone" was written by Sophocles in the 5th century. In 1943, an adaption by Jean Anouilh was published, which is the version being presented at Greeley. The play was conceived during the Nazi occupation and was thus subject to censorship. The authority depicted in Anouilh's adaptation shares many of the same characteristics as that of the Nazis. The French Resistance is embodied in the character of Antigone.

The crux of the play revolves around an edict regarding burial, or rather the lack thereof, of Antigone's brother Polynices, who was killed in the battle for Thebes. Creon, the current king who is also Antigone's uncle, has decreed that the corpse of Polynices must be left to be devoured by vultures due to his rebellious life. Antigone is determined to defy the edict so that her brother's body not be left to wander the earth.

Director Christopher Schraufnagel chose to set his production of the play in the 1940s. He felt that Anouilh's adaptation was, "Inspired by the time period and art that was being made then. It is reminiscent of film noir." Thus, every scene opens in a mist, narrated by the Prologue, (played to great effect by Sam Caywood). The Prologue's costume is quintessentially film noir, replete with a trench coat and fedora.

A pivotal point in the story comes when Creon confronts Antigone after she has covered Polynices's body with dirt. Creon, played expertly by Matt Haas - a veteran of the Greeley stage - attempts to convince Antigone to embrace life. Creon offers to cover up the crime and encourages her to embrace life.

"You'll find out for yourself, probably too late, that life is a book one loves," he says. "It's a child playing at your feet, it's a tool that sits well in your hands ... that life consists of nothing more than the happiness we can get out of it."

Maile Hamilton imbues the role of Antigone with a steadfast will. She refuses Creon's aide and is last seen ascending the rungs of a ladder which disappear behind a set of ingeniously designed sliding doors.

Several dominant themes in Antigone speak to contemporary audiences. Feminism and gender equality are represented in Antigone's determination to bury her brother. Antigone's sister Ismene urges her to remember that, "It's proper for men to believe in ideals and to die for them, but you're a girl."

Additionally, dictatorial regimes like Creon's still prevail in many countries. The ills visited on his country by Creon are continued by leaders including Fidel Castro and Kim Jong Il today.

Audience members were ecstatic.

"I enjoyed it immensely," said Suzie Maltz.

Nina Kretzmer found the play to be very "intense". She remarked that there were many differences between Sophocles's work - which she is currently studying in the Humanities course as a student at Greeley - and Anouilh's adaptation. "You're missing the Chorus," she said. "You kind of got it with Sam, the narrator."

She also mentioned that she, "Didn't see Creon as paranoid in this version. He has this compulsion to be obeyed."

"Antigone" will be shown for two more nights. One rendition will be tonight at 8 p.m., while the third a final one will be Saturday at 8 p.m. Both will take place in the auditorium at Horace Greeley High School, according to a press release detailing the event.