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Inspired by Ellen McLaughlin's adaptation of the Sophocles text, Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and director Ron Sossi put a unique stamp on this ancient, archetypal story.
Although McLaughlin’s acclaimed Oedipus is contemporary in feel and language, Sossi’s vision sets the action in some ancient and mysterious civilization — is it Aztec, Incan or Egyptian? Or perhaps there’s a hint of the unearthly about it?
“The story is ancient, archetypal — it could happen anywhere,” says Sossi. “We’ve renamed it Oedipus Machina because the central image will be a machine that represents the intrepid and relentless movement of fate.”
A plague grips ...Read More
Inspired by Ellen McLaughlin's adaptation of the Sophocles text, Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and director Ron Sossi put a unique stamp on this ancient, archetypal story.
Although McLaughlin’s acclaimed Oedipus is contemporary in feel and language, Sossi’s vision sets the action in some ancient and mysterious civilization — is it Aztec, Incan or Egyptian? Or perhaps there’s a hint of the unearthly about it?
“The story is ancient, archetypal — it could happen anywhere,” says Sossi. “We’ve renamed it Oedipus Machina because the central image will be a machine that represents the intrepid and relentless movement of fate.”
A plague grips the city of Thebes. Desperate to save his people, King Oedipus sends a messenger to the oracle at Delphi and discovers that the city's salvation lies in finding and punishing the murderer of the former king, Laius, who was brutally slain by a stranger at a crossroads years ago. When Oedipus orders a manhunt, he unknowingly sets the wheels of his own destruction in motion.
There are multiple versions of the Oedipus myth, which was dramatized more often than any other legend and is second only to the Trojan War as a subject for Greek epic poetry. Some thirteen different Greek authors, including Aeschylus and Euripides, are known to have written plays on the subject — but only the Sophocles drama has survived.
Performances of Oedipus Machina take place on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., May 30 through July 26. Additional weeknight performances are scheduled on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on June 17 and July 8; and on Thursdays at 8 p.m. on June 25, July 2, July 16 and July 23. The third Friday of every month is wine night at the Odyssey: enjoy complimentary wine and snacks and mingle with the cast after the show. Tickets are $34. There will be four “Tix for $10” performances on Friday, June 5; Friday, June 19 (wine night); Thursday, July 2; and Wednesday, July 8. The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd.,West Los Angeles, 90025. For reservations and information, call (310) 477-2055 or go to www.OdysseyTheatre.com.
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