Short description

As Oedipus learns he can end the plague terrorizing Theban society by avenging his predecessor's murder, the natural and supernatural worlds collide. His quest for truth restores prosperity with devastating consequences. Contains nudity.

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Last viewed on November 21, 2008, 4:40 am
It was last updated on June 13, 2006, 8:10 pm
It was originally posted: 2006-05-05 14:36:47
By Akropolis Performance Lab

DESCRIPTION

“Nothing can escape the plague. It fastens on everyone.” ~Seneca

Akropolis Performance Lab’s (APL) newest theatrical work, an adaptation of Seneca’s Oedipus, runs June 2-17 in the historic, Beacon Hill estate house of the Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs.

The natural and supernatural worlds collide in Seneca's version of the Oedipus story. With plague raging outside, the people of Thebes gather in the royal house for refuge from the terror paralyzing their society. There, they witness Oedipus who, determined to rid his land of the plague just as he previously rid it of the Sphinx, learns that the plague will continue until his predecessor's murder is avenged and the murderer banished. Oedipus's quest for knowledge and truth restores prosperity to his people with devastating consequences.

Into Seneca's telling, Akropolis weaves Latin meditations on fate culled from the Carmina Burana Codex and set to luminous, haunting polyphonic music inspired by the traditional songs of Ukraine, Macedonia, and Russia.

As in all APL productions, the text, the song, and the action are inextricably linked. Only at the union of these elements is the story fully manifest. Striking physicality and saturated, complex vocal music are hallmarks of any APL event. Adapted and directed by Joseph Lavy, and featuring music devised and directed by Jennifer Lavy, Oedipus re-confirms APL’s powerful artistic range.

Akropolis Performance Lab, which is proud to be sponsored by Theatre Puget Sound, is now in its sixth year in Seattle. The company has mounted all-original work, including main-stage productions of an adaptation of Macbeth, Song of Songs, Jeanne The Maid: A Trial And Execution Of Jeanne D'Arc, and 2004's highly acclaimed Dream of a Ridiculous Man—which was remounted as part of the Theatre4Play Festival in conjunction with last year’s national Theatre Communications Group conference and was also the subject of a feature article in the winter 2006 issue of The Stage theatre magazine in Moscow, Russia.


TICKETS: Purchase in advance through Brown Paper Tickets (1-800-838-3006 or www.BrownPaperTickets.com). Day-of, cash-only sales begin onsite 30 minutes before curtain.

PERFORMERS: Elizabeth Erber, Holly Fowers, Margaretta Lantz, Jennifer Lavy, Joseph Lavy, and Andrew Loviska

ADAPTED AND DIRECTED BY Joseph Lavy, APL co-artistic director

MUSIC DEVISED AND DIRECTED BY Jennifer Lavy, APL co-artistic director

NOTE: Because this production of Oedipus contains some nudity, it is recommended for mature audiences.

The production runs 90 minutes with no intermission.

There will be no late seating.

Special showing at 11pm on June 3 is free for TPS members ($5 for non-members).

REVIEWS & PREVIEWS

User-Submitted Reviews

Thoughts on excellence, theatre, groupwork, daily Review by Rachel Rutherford Tuesday, June 13, 2006 Akropolis productions are consistently world-theatre productions. It\'s like seeing one of Ariane Mnouchkine\'s or Robert LePage\'s productions [...]. (read article) Seattle Times makes OEDIPUS a Best Bet Staff Pick Review by Leah B. Green Saturday, June 10, 2006 Akropolis displays an excellence that blurs genre lines. [...] Laid out with vocal and physical exactitude. […] A seriously satisfying performance. (read article) Seattle Weekly makes OEDIPUS a performance pick Review by Suzanne Beal Tuesday, June 6, 2006 [Joseph] Lavy, as Oedipus, uses creative physicality to convey the conundrum he’s about to crack[...]. The play also boasts exquisite vocal harmonies. (read article) seattleactor.com Review by Jerry Kraft Monday, June 5, 2006 The company is talented, balanced, disciplined and passionate, the artistry mature and substantial. [...] one of the best shows I’ve seen in months. (read article) Thoughts, Facts, and Opinions Review by Thomasz Gil Monday, June 5, 2006 I am greatly impressed by this theater group and find much very right with their artistic method which follows the precepts of Grotowski. (read article) TPS Message Boards Preview by Various contributors Monday, June 5, 2006 TPS members discuss the distribution difficulties and censorship of APL’s Oedipus poster (read article) The Stranger Preview by Brendan Kiley Monday, June 5, 2006 Oedipus is a motherfucking classic and [...] it’s got an enormous, unflinching scope: murder, incest, rape, plague, tyrants, you know, the good stuff. (read article)

average rating: - from 1 reviewer Read complete reviews Write a review Saturday 3 June 2006: Oedipus, Akropolis Performance Lab at the Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs hall, 2336 - 15th Ave S on Beacon Hill (ju ... -Joseph E Boling June 4, 2006, 11:49 pm

COMPLETE SCHEDULE

  Friday, June 2, 2006 from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm
  Saturday, June 3, 2006 from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm
  Saturday, June 3, 2006 from 11:00 pm to 12:30 am   -  
  Friday, June 9, 2006 from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm
  Saturday, June 10, 2006 from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm
  Sunday, June 11, 2006 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
  Wednesday, June 14, 2006 from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm
  Thursday, June 15, 2006 from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm
  Friday, June 16, 2006 from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm
  Friday, June 16, 2006 from 11:00 pm to 12:30 am
  Saturday, June 17, 2006 from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm

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