During the dying days of Nazi fascism, French playwright Jean Anouilh wrote Antigone, his own version of Sophocles’ fifth century tragedy.
The play has become one of the more enduring metaphors for the Nazi regime, depicting a revolt against rigid power structures and immovable policies. However, the script is also imbued with the existential debates of Modernism, revolving around a rebel protagonist who is thoroughly disillusioned with life.
This rarely performed play is being staged at PACT’s performance space in Erskineville. Presented by Théâtre Excentrique, it is directed by Anna Jahjah and performed by a cast of new and experienced actors.
Following the banishment of King Oedipus, his brother Creon (Neil Modra) reigns over Thebes. A daughter of the former king, Antigone is a modern adolescent trapped in an ancient city. She is betrothed to Haemon (Philippe Klaus), the son of Creon, but cannot foresee any future happiness. Played with cool intelligence by Ellen Williams, Antigone has a contemporary edge that sets her apart from the rest of the cast. Her fatal action is her determination to bury her brother’s body, after he was deemed an enemy of the state. However, this move is likely a tactic to achieve her real goal, which is to commit suicide.
The heart of the play is a confrontation between Creon and Antigone. He speaks of the “sordid business” of governance while she fights to escape state power; this highlights a clash between obligation and liberty. It seems as if this scene has also been steered to evoke an unresolvable rift between generations. There is real empathy on both sides, debunking the protagonist/antagonist divide.
Anouilh retained elements of traditional Greek theatre, such as the chorus, which is played here by students from Blacktown Girls High. While Anouilh’s dialogue can sometimes feel a bit stilted, the performances are generally quite thoughtful (Modra and Williams are particularly solid). On the whole, Jahjah has created a dynamic reinvigoration of a classic moral brain-teaser.
3.5/5 stars
Antigone is playing at the PACT Theatre until Saturday May 2.
