Last weekend we saw Luis Alfaro’s Oedipus El Rey at the Magic. It was amazing. If you get the chance, either at the Magic (it’s open through this weekend) or elsewhere (there are a couple of other productions in the works), I highly recommend it.
As you might guess, it’s a retelling of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex. But this is a vision of Oedipus Rex transplanted and translated into a very specific now. Unlike many retellings it manages to both be a faithful reflection of the Oedipus story (as it exists in my brain) and true to its transplanted identity in southern California.
It shares with Sophocles the issues of Jocasta as plot piece/Jocasta as character, but in the second half she really comes into her own.
The coro blends seamlessly from prisoners, to townspeople, to seers, with a minimalist setting that nonetheless tells you exactly where you are. When Tireseas entered, I couldn’t breathe. The imagery of this enormous space and him entering from outside was incredible. And the repetition of the vision at the end, with entirely different emotional content was devastating.
Stunning theatre, and I’m so glad I went.
Glad you enjoyed OEDIPUS EL REY. There IS another production currently running in Pasadena, California. Our production runs through March 28th. Check us out at http://www.bostoncourt.org
Thanks for supporting live theatre!
Best, Michael
Thank you so much for coming. I am super duper proud of it and of the cast. I really appreciate it.