Second chapter of a tragedy that speaks to the soul, soliciting reflections on the meaning of life, “Oedipus in Colono” of Sophocles – which closes today at the Greek theater in Syracuse with the direction of Robert Carsen, for the 60. Cycle of classic representations of the ADA – It is not only a continuation of the Oedipus story, but the story of a decline, of a farewell to life, to reflect on the ultimate meaning of suffering and on the possible redemption.
Welcomed with great favor by the public, The show boasts in the thick cast the participation of the Messina actor William Carusoborn in 1993, in the role of one of the inhabitants of Colono who welcome Oedipus.
«He is the first character that Oedipus (Giuseppe Sartori) meets in the wood of Colono – he tells us – a sacred space in which he could not enter. It is a sort of first messenger ». A character who starts the story, creating the chain effect of the meetings made by Oedipus.
«We worked to make it go too far on comic notes – continues Caruso – because it is a village, an almost naive character, who has the task of preserving the sacred place. He enters the scene with a jug of water and reciting a prayer blesses the space. A sort of sacristan, like those who clean and settle in the sacred places of the south every day ».
Carsen’s work on actors, based on essentiality: “In the construction of the scenes, Robert worked on the interpretation of every single joke trying to find the minimalism of acting. His is a poetic minimalism that transpires on stage and in the work of the actors, based on removing as much as possible elements that usually bind to tragic acting, very oriented towards grandeur. Instead he tried to work on detail, on the essence of the characters, and until the day of the first he changed jokes, actions, interactions, spaces and movements. For the actors it was a continuous questioning. “
Caruso underlines the topicality and universality of Sophocles’ text: «It is incredible to see how the words of the classics resonate in each of us. There are times when the work of the tragedy is community work, where the public meets again and becomes part of the story ». The actor will return to the Greek theater for two other important events, directed by Giuliano Peparini: “Iliad”, staged from 4 to 6 July, in the role of Zeus, and “Na Nuletta ri Passions” on July 17th.