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Probably best known for the complex that bears his name, Oedipus
Rex has unfortunately spent more time relegated to the reading
lists of 10th graders and 1950's sexual psychology than to
the stages of American theatre. Granted there are many dreary,
academic interpretations of the Greek dramas but fortunately for
the Shotgun Players they have found a soulful, riveting new translation
by Nicholas Rudall, founder and former Artistic Director of the
prestigious Court Theatre in Chicago. Through Rudall's dialogue
we are granted immediate access to Sophocles' genius. You
find yourself in the capable hands of a magical storyteller who
captures you in each succeeding moment of dramatic tension. Knowing
what is about to happen only heightens our excitement, fear and
sadness as the play catapults to its irrevocable conclusion.
For the last 3 years the Shotgun Players have made a tradition of
turning to the ancient Greeks for complex and sure-fire dramas to
charge up their season. This production brings together many of the
most powerful elements of past plays. Oedipus Rex will feature a
singing and dancing Chorus lead by Beth Donohue Templeton who had
great success as the title role in last year's Medea. Clive
Worsley (Troilus and Cressida, We Won't Pay, Winesburg,
Ohio) will take on the title role. Richard James (Play About
the Baby) will play Teiresias and Casey Jones Bastiaans will
play the Priest. This production also gives us another opportunity
to work with members of the Bay Area's Iranian theatre company - Darvag.
Bella Warda (Romeo and Juliet, The Bacchae) will
be playing the ill-fated Queen of Thebes and Roham Shaikhani will
play her brother and eventual successor, Creon. Another mainstay
of Shotgun's Greek tradition has been live music. Tim Barsky,
whose one man show As If In Sleep had a popular run at the
Exit Theatre this past fall will play percussion and flute instruments
and compose soundscapes with the ensemble. Kimberly Wilday will choreograph
the Chorus and Shotgun Artistic Director Patrick Dooley (Iphigenia
in Aulis, There Will Be No Trojan War) will direct.
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Review
by Georgia Rowe for
Contra Costa Times
Review
by Lisa Drostova for
East Bay Express
Review
by Michael Scott Moore for
SF Weekly
Review
by Anna Mantzaris for
SF Gate
Review
by Robert Avila for
SF Bay Guardian
Review
by Chad Jones for
Oakland Tribune
Directed by
Patrick Dooley
Choreography by Kimberly Wilday
Music Composition and live Flute & Percussion by Tim Barsky
Light design : Rob Anderson
Set design : Scott Hove
Costume design : Valera Coble
Composer : Tim Barsky
Choregrapher : Kimberly Wilday
PUBLICITY
STILLS
CAST
Oedipus Rex: Clive Worsley
Teiresias: Richard James
Priest: Casey Jones Bastiaans
Queen of Thebes: Bella Warda
Creon: Roham Shaikhani
Chorus Leader: Beth Donohue Templeton
PREVIEWS
February 27 and 28 at 8pm
OPENS
Saturday, March 1 at 8pm
CONTINUES
Thursday-Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 7pm until
March 30. (No show on Sunday, March 2.)
EXTENDED!!
The following performances have
been added:
April 3rd, 4th and 5th at 8pm
ADMISSION
$10 All Thursdays
$20 Opening Night with After Show Reception
$12 - $18 All other days
Pay-What-You-Can Previews
& Press Night
PERFORMED
AT
The 8th Street Studio Theatre
2525 8th Street between Dwight and Parker in West Berkeley
Click here for
a map.
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