Oedipus is a victim who wants to go on and elaborates what happened to him. We are all a little Oedipus». Robert Carsen He returns to the Greek theater in Syracuse and after the great success of “Oedipus Re”, in 2022, presented “Oedipus a Colono” by Sophocles, in Francesco’s translation Defaulton Saturday debut. The main roles confirmed: Giuseppe Sartori Back to interpret Oedipus, Massimo Nicolini It will be Teseo, Paolo Mazzarelli Creon. Debut in the role of Antigone for Fotinì PelusoSimone Severini It will be Polinice, Clara Bortolotti Ismene, Pasquale Montemurro Il Messaggero, Rosario German and Elena Polyc Greek chorus chiefs.
It’s not just a change of scene …
“It’s another totally tragedy. All Sophocle’s writing is another thing. All these tensions, anxieties that are explored. Oedipus is older, over the years he has understood his innocence and in a certain sense he prepares for death. The second part of the prophecy is accomplished, which will find the sacred place for his death near Athens. There is this rivalry between Thebes and Athens to have its tomb because it will be an advantage for the city according to the prophecy. Oedipus must leave the problems to get rid of all the injustices he has suffered, to be ready to go to this mysterious world that almost nobody can see and that in a sense is chosen for the gods. This tragedy is very mysterious, not as Oedipo Re: it is another atmosphere ».
Oedipus performs a metamorphosis.
«We are all Oedipus, it’s a symbol. There is something religious, in the sense that Oedipus has suffered a lot and is a symbol for all. There is something of the dignity with which he must bring his suffering: it is a symbol for what can happen to each of us. A man who frees himself from the needs and ambitions to become one with the nature that surrounds him. There is something transcendental in what happens to Oedipus. Let’s not forget that the Greek theater is also a religious institution in a certain sense: we must accept what happens to us, because we cannot control everything, there are more strength than us who decide. Destiny will be accomplished. So how a person can adapt to live these tragic actions. This is the lesson for us: not only to remain victims and cry, but understand what can be done positive. And there is also another warning that Sophocles rightly has understood by writing about the family node: there is the danger that the problems between parents, between father and son are repeating themselves continuously and there is a need to break this violent cycle, a circle of violence. There is a need to forgive to go on. Children cannot punish their parents for what they have or have not done and parents also have to accept their children for what they are and understand that we all try to do better in this world full of problems ».
The tragedy takes place outside the city.
“In the text there is the description of this sacred place, consecrated to the Eumenids. We wanted to recreate it. The Greek theater has this double presence, of the stone carved into the rock and surrounded by nature, and therefore you can see these gigantic trees ».
There will be two choirs on stage?
«In the text it is written by the Choir of Vecchi of Athens. But we have the very young actors of the Academy of Art of the ancient drama for the choir of the inhabitants of Colono. In Oedipus Re, the whole city is present, men and women together. In this case I created a choir of the Eumenids. I told myself that it is interesting to give voice to the famous Eumenids, invisible to humans, who live in this sacred place ».
