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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?
