Love, Death, and Tyranny: Antigone

For any of you theatre buffs out there, it’s that time of year again! This fall, enjoy a dramatic change of pace as the North Kingstown High School’s Drama Club performs an intriguing modernized version of the epic Greek play, Antigone.  Approximately forty high school students are involved in the intense and inspiring performance, which will be put up on November 22, 23, and 24.

            Antigone, the sequel to the well-known classic Greek play, Oedipus, is about one girl, Antigone (Amelia Bowen, grade 11), who defies orders and risks her life in order to bury her dead brother, Polyneices, so he can rest in peace with his brother, Eteocles.  Polyneices has been banished as a traitor by King Creon (Mikhail Hyde, grade 12), and burying him has been declared illegal and punishable by death.  The play starts with an intense fight scene between Polyneices and Eteocles, who are represented as hockey players in the modernized version.  With flashing lights and dramatic drumming, Mr. Robert Shaffer, the director, has made Antigone come to life with an unexpected and exciting twist.

            Mr. Shaffer, North Kingstown High School’s brilliant art and drama teacher, wrote original songs to add to the mounting intensity in the play.  The haunting melodies “add a whole new depth to the show,” says Emily Auger, stage manager, who is thrilled with how the show is coming along.  Each character has a unique theme that plays when they enter and mimics their personality.  In addition to the mysterious music, Antigone also features rhythmic and interpretive dancing and poised tableaus.  Amelia Bowen says that “It’s not going to be like anything the drama club has done before.  It’s short, exciting, and interpretive.  People are going to love it!”

            Of course, the show wouldn't be complete without a love story.  Enter Haemon (Ethan Marble, grade 12), King Creon’s son, who is in love with Antigone.  Of course, this upsets Creon, because Antigone has been sentenced to death by none other than Creon himself.  Antigone is sure to be different, exciting and certainly a wonderful show!  Don’t forget to mark your calendars for this weekend at 7:30pm on Friday and Saturday and 1:30pm on Sunday.  Tickets are $6.00 or 3 tickets for $15.00, and can be bought at the door.  Students can also buy tickets at lunches during school this week.

View the commercial here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7crW8sTAuXI