Genesius Guild's “Antigone" at Lincoln Park -- June 20 through 28.
Saturday, June 20, through Sunday, June 28
Lincoln Park, 1120 40th Street, Rock Island IL
An ancient-Greek classic that has long been translated for stage, cinema, television, and more than a half-dozen full-length operas, Sophocles' Antigone will be staged in Rock Island's Lincoln Park June 20 through 28, Genesius Guild's latest serving as the theatre company's annual presentation largely performed in traditional Greek masks.
Directing Antigone is Michael Callahan, a Genesius Guild veteran who previously helmed Oedipus Rex, Medea, and Prometheus Bound in Lincoln Park, and also appeared in productions of Hippolytus and Measure for Measure. Elizabeth Sager provides the script's adaptation, Julia Sears serves as the production's assistant director, and additional members of the creative team including art director Matthew Callahan, assistant art director Miranda Callahan, and technical director Josef Bodenbender.
As director Callahan says, "People always think that we pick our Greek plays because of a particular political moment. This is not true. It just seems that these plays allow the audience to see the problems of today in the light of these plays written 2,500 years ago. People are people. Gods are gods.
"The story starts with Oedipus, although Antigone was the earliest of the three Oedipus plays. Antigone also started Genesius Guild. It is our oldest play, too. Oedipus kills his father and marries his mother because of things his father had done. He is no longer in the picture. His brother-in-law Creon (Allie Cox) now rules. His sons having just fought a battle where both were killed. Antigone (Evie Johnson) and Ismene (Stella Rider) are all that is left from Oedipus’ marriage. Uncle Creon decides that one of their brothers should be given full honors. The other should be left unburied. This being the greatest insult one could imagine. It also is a slight to the Gods themselves. Antigone decides that the Gods and her brother should indeed be buried even though Creon has made it illegal to do so.
"Antigone is either hero or anti-hero and is a teenage girl exploring her power and finding her way in her strange life. She will not be contained or let her sister Ismene ruin her plans. This year, the production of Sophocles’ Antigone is the Genesius Guild’s high school production. Most of the cast is of high school age. It has been exciting watching these performers grow in ability and express their talent. We started rehearsals with a couple weeks of skill building and have moved on to working with the complex emotions of this play. I have found them an absolute joy to work with and seeing them teach me about this play.
"I am also excited to see the stage and the masks in their final form. Yes, we will be continuing the tradition of having masked characters on the stage. This time, the chorus will wear modified masks as well as some of the lead characters. I enjoy letting masks, sometimes, almost be characters in their own right. Antigone will talk to hers. Ismene will try hers on. Haemon (Chase Richhart) will offer his up. Eurydice (Evalee Kershaw) will leave hers behind.
"The chorus (Avalon Willowbloom, Vaughn Willowbloom, Sylvie Wright, Sylvie DeLathouwer, Brian Wellner, Lucy Wellner, Chase Murley, Nathan Elgatian, Bailey Callahan, Inara Wiegand, and Karen Riffey) may be the most complex character and I hope they are never forgotten or thought as background. Each artist contributes so much to these plays. The chorus has to do it both as one character and as their own character. The chorus also has to be on stage almost the entire play.
"Although this is a tragedy, expect some humor along the way as well. The Guard (Juno King), Teireseus (Christian Wellner), and his assistant/bird (Ferb Bodenbender) add a bit of levity as we struggle through to disaster 'that awaits us all' as the chorus cheerily reminds us. What would a Greek play be without a Tragic Messenger (Kate Deelath) to make sure we are given all the gruesome details of what happens just offstage? With one of the greatest choral odes of the literature thrown in as well. Come out and enjoy these artists as your community revives and retells a story that you will think was written for our times. For free! In a beautiful park setting!"
Genesius Guild's Antigone will be performed in Rock Island's Lincoln Park June 20 through 28, with performances Saturdays and Sundays at 7 p.m. Although admission is free, donations are gratefully accepted, and more information is available by visiting Genesius.org.
