Oedipus Rex is this Year's One-Act Play!

by Taryn Retzlaff

September 28, 2007

CONGRATULATIONS to the cast and crew of this year's One-Act play, Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. There will be a mandatory practice at 6:50 a.m. on Monday, October 1 in Mrs. Dohse's room. Practice is mandatory for both cast and crew.

CAST:
Oedipus the King......Titus K.
Jocaste......Ashley L.
Messenger......Trevor Z.
Shepherd......Jase D.
Teiresias......Katie V.
Kreon......Nic T.

Spirits:
Angela W.
Jaicee P.
Alexa L.
Courtney L.
Tashina D.
Nicole H.
Brandie W.
Valerie K.
Leigh C.

Mother......Satchell H.
Mother in Labor......Simmone S.
Farmer......David K.
Lepers......Bryce D. and Jimmy M.

CREW:
Lighting......Taylor C.
Spotlight......Misty D.
Music......Marylee Y.
Set......Trey B., Tyler E., Monica T., Taylor H., Stephanie C., Alecia H.

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So, what's the One-Act About?

*Courtesy of MSN Encarta

Much of the myth of Oedipus takes place before the opening scene of the play. The main character of the tragedy is Oedipus, son of King Laius of Thebes and Queen Jocaste. After Laius learned from an oracle that "he was doomed/To perish by the hand of his own son," Jocasta ordered a messenger to leave him for dead "In Cithaeron's wooded glens"; Instead, the baby was given to a shepherd and raised in the court of King Polybus of Corinth. As a young man in Corinth Oedipus heard a rumor that he was not the biological son of Polybus and Merope. When Oedipus asked them, they denied it. Oedipus remained suspicious and decided to ask the Delphic Oracle who his real parents were. The Oracle seemed to ignore this question, but instead told him that he was destined to "Mate with [his] own mother, and shed/ With [his] own hands the blood of [his] own sire." Oedipus left Corinth under the belief that Polybus and Merope, Polybus' wife, were his true parents. On the road to Thebes, he met Laius and they argued over which wagon had the right-of-way. Oedipus' pride led him to kill Laius, ignorant of the fact that he was his biological father, fulfilling part of the oracle's prophecy. Oedipus then went on to solve the Sphinx's riddle: "What is the creature that walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon and three in the evening?" To this Oedipus answered "Man," Distraught that her riddle had been answered correctly, the Sphinx threw herself off the side of the wall. His reward for freeing the kingdom of Thebes from the Sphinx's curse was kingship and marriage to the queen, Jocasta, who was also his biological mother. Thus, the prophecy was fulfilled.

The play begins years after Oedipus is given the throne of Thebes. The chorus of Thebans cries out to Oedipus for salvation from the plague sent by the gods in response to Laius' murder. Throughout the play, Oedipus searches for Laius' murderer and promises to exile the man responsible for it, ignorant of the fact that he is the murderer. The blind prophet, Teiresias, is called to aid Oedipus in his search; however, after warning Oedipus not to follow through with the investigation, Oedipus accuses him of being the murderer, even though Teiresias is blind and aged. Oedipus also accuses Teiresias of conspiring with Kreon, Jocasta's brother, to overthrow him.

Oedipus then calls for one of Laius' former servants, the only surviving witness of the murder, who fled the city when Oedipus became king to avoid being the one to reveal the truth. Soon a messenger from Corinth also arrives to inform Oedipus of the death of Polybus, whom Oedipus still believes is his real father. At this point the messenger informs him that he was in fact adopted and his real parentage is unknown. In the subsequent discussions between Oedipus, Jocasta, the servant, and the messenger, Jocasta guesses the truth and runs away. Oedipus is stubborn; however, a second messenger arrives and reveals that Jocasta has hanged herself and Oedipus, upon discovering her body, blinds himself with the golden brooches on her dress. The play ends with Oedipus entrusting his children to Creon and declaring his intent to leave in exile. Creon, however, convinces Oedipus that they should the consult the Delphic Oracle on what to do next. Creon leads Oedipus back into the palace. The chorus says no man will be happy until Oedipus is dead.