[♪ 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?