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[♪ trumpets]

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Actor: Behind those doors a company is

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getting ready to act the tragedy of

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King Oedipus.

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It was written more than 2,000 years ago.

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Sophocles, an Athenian poet

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wrote it for the great spring festival

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in honor of the god of spring.

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The events that you will see

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are not really taking place.

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They are just the reenactments of a sacrifice,

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a human sacrifice.

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In the Christian ritual,

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a priest by the breaking of bread

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and the pouring of wine

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symbolically reenacts the breaking of

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Christ's body and the shedding of His blood.

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In narrative and mind,

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he commemorates the sacrifice of one man

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who died for the people.

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We too, shall commemorate such a sacrifice,

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the destruction of one man that his people might live.

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As priests put on vestments and

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move in a preordained ritual,

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we...

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put on these characters and

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reenact this tragedy.

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The god of whom we shall speak and

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to whom we shall pray is called Apollo.

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He represents one aspect of omnipotence.

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He is the sun god, giver of light

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and giver of spiritual light.

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Our tragedy is largely concerned with the

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contrast of darkness and light.

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The darkness of blindness

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and the light of the eyes.

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The darkness of ignorance

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and the lightness of knowledge.

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The darkness of matter

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and the lightness of spirit.

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Imagination.

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In fact, this place is a stage.

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Around us are cameras, great lamps,

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the machinery of making films,

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but now, imagine.

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These great lamps are the sun.

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The cameras are watching eyes.

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The stage is part of the ancient city of Thebes.

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Here, on this rock stands the palace of the king.

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Chorus: King Oedipus.

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Actor: Around us and below is the city.

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Plague rages.

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The citizens approach.

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They carry branches hung with wool,

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traditional symbols of prayer.

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First Chorus Member: We are waiting for Oepdius.

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Chorus: Oedipus, King of Thebes.

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His queen is Jocasta.

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First Chorus Member: But Jocasta was once

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the wife of another king.

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Chorus: Another king of Thebes.

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Single: His name...Laius.

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Chorus: Laius.

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Second Chorus Member: Where is Laius?

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First: Disappeared. Went on a long journey.

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Never returned.

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Chorus: Laius. Never returned.

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Third Chorus Member: That was long ago.

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Fourth Chorus Member: Then came the Sphinx.

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Chorus: Sphinx!

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Chorus Member: What was the Sphinx?

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-Amongst us!

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-Half woman, half bear!

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-She ravished the city, devoured our children!

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-Thebes was in despair.

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Chorus: Despair.

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First: Then came a stranger...

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Chorus Member: A young man from far away.

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-Conquered the Sphinx!

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-Delivered us!

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-City!

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-In despair the Sphinx herself down from the rock.

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Chorus: Cast us down from the rock!

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Oedipus was our savior!

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[indiscernible] our king!

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First: Jocasta, wife to dead Laius became his queen.

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Chorus: Jocasta, queen of Thebes!

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Chorus: Oedipus conquer! Oedipus savior!

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Chorus Member: Oedipus!

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Chorus: Oedipus king!

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Oedipus: Children...

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descendents of Old Cadmus,

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why do you come before me?

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Why do you carry the branches of suppliant?

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I would not learn from any mouth

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but yours, old man.

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Therefore I question you myself.

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Do you know of anything that I can do

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and have not done?

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How can I being the man I am,

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do other than all I know?

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I would indeed heart of hearts,

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did I not pity such suppliants?

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Old Man: Plague ravages this city.

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A blight has fallen upon the fruitful blossoms

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of the land.

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A blight upon flock and field.

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A blight upon the marriage bed.

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Chorus Member: Oedipus king,

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not god, but foremost of living men.

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Old Man: We beseech you.

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All we suppliants do find some help.

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Uplift our states.

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Think upon your fame.

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Your coming brought us luck.

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Be lucky to us too.

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Remember that it is better to rule over men

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than over a waste place.

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Since neither wall down nor ship is anything,

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if it be empty and no man within it.

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Oedipus: My unhappy children,

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suffer as though you be,

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there is not a single one whose

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suffering is as mine.

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Each mourns himself,

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but my soul mourns the city, myself and you.

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Be certain that I have wept many tears

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and have searched hither and thither

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for some remedy.

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Indeed I have done the only thing that

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came into my head for all my search.

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I have sent the son of Menoeceus,

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Creon, my queen Jocasta's brother

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to the article of Apollo at Delphi

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to hear a word or deed of mine

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may yet deliver this town.

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I am troubled

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for he is a long time away.

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A longer time than should be.

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But when he comes I shall not be

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an honest man unless I do

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whatever the god commands.

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Chorus member: You hath spoken at the right time.

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They have just signaled that Creon has arrived.

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Oedipus: Oh, King Apollo may he bring

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bright upon fortune for his face is shining!

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Chorus member: He brings good news

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for he is crowned with fame!

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Oedipus: We should soon know.

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Brother in-law!

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Menoeceus's son

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What news from the god?

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Good news

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Our pain turns to pleasure

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When we have set

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the crooked straight

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But what is the oracle?

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So far the news is neither good nor bad

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If you would hear it

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with all these about you

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I am ready to speak

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Or do we go within?

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Speak before all

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The sorrow I endured

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is less for my own life

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than these

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Then, with your leave,

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I speak

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Our lord Apollo

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Bids us drive out

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the drive out the defiling thing

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that has been cherished in these lands

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What defiling thing?

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King Laius was our king

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before you came to pilot us

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I know, but not from my own knowledge

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for I never saw him

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He was killed

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And the gods now bids us

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revenge on the murders

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whoever they be

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How shall we come upon their track

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after all these years?

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Did he meet his death in house or field?