The Communique

Issue date: 4/12/07 Section: A&E

Kimberly Van Winkle

Managing Editor

Kirkwood Community College will be presenting "A Burial at Thebes" by Seamus Heaney April 13-15 in Ballantyne Auditorium.

The play is a modern version of Sophocles' Antigone, who is the daughter of Oedipus. It is a Greek tragedy that begins when Oedipus is born and it is prophesied that he would marry his mother. Fearful of this his father, the king, shackled him and left him in the desert to die. He was rescued and told about the prophecy.

He swore never to allow that to happen but on the road one day came into conflict with a man passing him and killed him, unknowing that it was his father. He came to Thebes and was crowned king after marrying the queen, his mother.

They had two daughters (Allsabeth Caraway and Ashley Yates) who are featured in the play. "A Burial at Thebes" takes place after a war in which the girl's brothers had killed one another in battle. Oedipus had stepped down from the throne and the new king Creon decreed that Eteocles be buried with honor but Polynices be left out in the field to rot and anyone who attempts to bury him be put to death. The story continues as Antigone defies the king and buries her brother only to get caught and sentenced to death.

"It's a revision of an older Greek play that cuts out a lot of the 'thees' and thous.' It's been modernized so people can understand it. Even though it's about 2,000 years old it still applies today," said Kyle Ketelson a member of the chorus.

"It's about the consequences of our actions and that we should think before we do something," said Rick Anderson, director of theatre. It also has a political tie to the current Iraq war. "After 9/11 President Bush said, 'Either you're with us or against us,' which is what Creon says in the play," said Anderson.

One way that the political aspect is shown is through costume. For example, Creon wears a blue suit and red tie and the guards wear all black camo like uniforms and berets. "I definitely think the political undertones will be felt," said Gil Kyker, who plays one of the king's guards.

The set design is significant and represents destruction. It features a hill and broken columns strewn about to look like a wasteland.

"We're breaking a lot of boundaries with the set design. It changes mannerisms, feeling and language by allowing us to feel the words," said Ketelson.

According to Anderson "A Burial at Thebes" is different from any play Kirkwood has done before. "I've never done a Greek tragedy and nothing poetic like this since last summer," said Anderson.

In preparation for the play Anderson asked Dr. Scott Samuelson, professor of philosophy, to lecture on tragedy and politics. He has collected notes from him and briefed the cast on Greek culture. Original music will be composed by Jean-Paul Penotte who will orchestrate a live band during the performance.

Greek plays often focused on the moral of the story. "You have to understand the consequences of your actions, specifically large actions in a political sense. There is a duel importance to heed consequences through personal conviction and realizing political ramifications of losing a city," said Josh Beadle who plays Creon, the king of Thebes.

The play also teaches the importance of listening to the council of others. "The chorus is the voice of reason, guidance for Creon, who oversee all actions and make judgments based on our different personalities," said Elizabeth Breed, a member of the chorus.

The cast consists of 15 members and nine crew members, many of them returning performers.

"This is the largest role I've ever had here. I'm the nice guy in real life but everyone will regard me as evil in the play," said Beadle.

Anderson said, "It is always my hope that the audience thinks of where they are and how they connect to the play. Sometimes people make mistakes but it isn't a fatal end. Unfortunately, as the play shows us, war is a part of life."

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