[♪ trumpets] Actor: Behind those doors a company is getting ready to act the tragedy of King Oedipus. It was written more than 2,000 years ago. Sophocles, an Athenian poet wrote it for the great spring festival in honor of the god of spring. The events that you will see are not really taking place. They are just the reenactments of a sacrifice, a human sacrifice. In the Christian ritual, a priest by the breaking of bread and the pouring of wine symbolically reenacts the breaking of Christ's body and the shedding of His blood. In narrative and mind, he commemorates the sacrifice of one man who died for the people. We too, shall commemorate such a sacrifice, the destruction of one man that his people might live. As priests put on vestments and move in a preordained ritual, we... put on these characters and reenact this tragedy. The god of whom we shall speak and to whom we shall pray is called Apollo. He represents one aspect of omnipotence. He is the sun god, giver of light and giver of spiritual light. Our tragedy is largely concerned with the contrast of darkness and light. The darkness of blindness and the light of the eyes. The darkness of ignorance and the lightness of knowledge. The darkness of matter and the lightness of spirit. Imagination. In fact, this place is a stage. Around us are cameras, great lamps, the machinery of making films, but now, imagine. These great lamps are the sun. The cameras are watching eyes. The stage is part of the ancient city of Thebes. Here, on this rock stands the palace of the king. Chorus: King Oedipus. Actor: Around us and below is the city. Plague rages. The citizens approach. They carry branches hung with wool, traditional symbols of prayer. First Chorus Member: We are waiting for Oepdius. Chorus: Oedipus, King of Thebes. His queen is Jocasta. First Chorus Member: But Jocasta was once the wife of another king. Chorus: Another king of Thebes. Single: His name...Laius. Chorus: Laius. Second Chorus Member: Where is Laius? First: Disappeared. Went on a long journey. Never returned. Chorus: Laius. Never returned. Third Chorus Member: That was long ago. Fourth Chorus Member: Then came the Sphinx. Chorus: Sphinx! Chorus Member: What was the Sphinx? -Amongst us! -Half woman, half bear! -She ravished the city, devoured our children! -Thebes was in despair. Chorus: Despair. First: Then came a stranger... Chorus Member: A young man from far away. -Conquered the Sphinx! -Delivered us! -City! -In despair the Sphinx herself down from the rock. Chorus: Cast us down from the rock! Oedipus was our savior! [indiscernible] our king! First: Jocasta, wife to dead Laius became his queen. Chorus: Jocasta, queen of Thebes! Chorus: Oedipus conquer! Oedipus savior! Chorus Member: Oedipus! Chorus: Oedipus king! Oedipus: Children... descendents of Old Cadmus, why do you come before me? Why do you carry the branches of suppliant? I would not learn from any mouth but yours, old man. Therefore I question you myself. Do you know of anything that I can do and have not done? How can I being the man I am, do other than all I know? I would indeed heart of hearts, did I not pity such suppliants? Old Man: Plague ravages this city. A blight has fallen upon the fruitful blossoms of the land. A blight upon flock and field. A blight upon the marriage bed. Chorus Member: Oedipus king, not god, but foremost of living men. Old Man: We beseech you. All we suppliants do find some help. Uplift our states. Think upon your fame. Your coming brought us luck. Be lucky to us too. Remember that it is better to rule over men than over a waste place. Since neither wall down nor ship is anything, if it be empty and no man within it. Oedipus: My unhappy children, suffer as though you be, there is not a single one whose suffering is as mine. Each mourns himself, but my soul mourns the city, myself and you. Be certain that I have wept many tears and have searched hither and thither for some remedy. Indeed I have done the only thing that came into my head for all my search. I have sent the son of Menoeceus, Creon, my queen Jocasta's brother to the article of Apollo at Delphi to hear a word or deed of mine may yet deliver this town. I am troubled for he is a long time away. A longer time than should be. But when he comes I shall not be an honest man unless I do whatever the god commands. Chorus member: You hath spoken at the right time. They have just signaled that Creon has arrived. Oedipus: Oh, King Apollo may he bring bright upon fortune for his face is shining! Chorus member: He brings good news for he is crowned with fame! Oedipus: We should soon know. Brother in-law! Menoeceus's son What news from the god? Good news Our pain turns to pleasure When we have set the crooked straight But what is the oracle? So far the news is neither good nor bad If you would hear it with all these about you I am ready to speak Or do we go within? Speak before all The sorrow I endured is less for my own life than these Then, with your leave, I speak Our lord Apollo Bids us drive out the drive out the defiling thing that has been cherished in these lands What defiling thing? King Laius was our king before you came to pilot us I know, but not from my own knowledge for I never saw him He was killed And the gods now bids us revenge on the murders whoever they be How shall we come upon their track after all these years? Did he meet his death in house or field?