Poor Oedipus, so twisted up that his name became a label for some very bad behavior. But he started out as royalty and was the subject of plays by Sophocles some 2,500 years ago in ancient Greece. The primal and compelling tale of his rise and fall has fascinated theatergoers for millennia and it’s kept writers and scholars digging into its meaning and application.
Alison Vodnoy, a 2009 CCM drama grad who now works regularly at Know Theatre, has updated the tragedy to a contemporary world using jagged spoken-word poetry. She’s partnering with actor Darnell Benjamin for a piece they’re calling The Eyes of Oedipus. Using sound, lighting, masks and movement, the piece will enable you to experience the story through the eyes of a beggar who was once a king, now blind, lost and searching for answers to his tragic past amid the neon lights and the aural backdrop of a city street. Vodnoy’s script features Benjamin in the title role; she plays the remaining characters.
It’s happening on Know’s stage when the current run of Angels in America has a day off. Tickets are $12.
Find showtimes, buy tickets and get venue details here.
