BroadwayWorld: Oedipus The King by Sophocles – translated by Bryan Doerries at Varner Recital Hall at Oakland University
Oedipus The King by Sophocles – translated by Bryan Doerries at Varner Recital Hall at Oakland University
Oedipus, son of Laius and Jocasta, was a Theban hero and king, destined to unknowingly kill his father and marry his mother. He was also famous for defeating the Sphinx.
The Sphinx was a hybrid creature, usually represented with the features of a woman and a lion, as well as (sometimes) the wings of a bird. The Sphinx plagued the Greek city of Thebes until she was finally outmatched by Oedipus.
Ismene was one of the children of Oedipus and Jocasta. She tried to prevent her sister Antigone from burying their fallen brother Polynices, as this was against the law.
Eteocles was a son of Oedipus, though he and his brother Polynices were both cursed by their father for dishonoring him. When Eteocles failed to respect a prior agreement to share the Theban throne with Polynices, a war broke out between the two brothers, claiming both their lives.
Theseus was a hero and king of Athens. His most notable accomplishments included killing the Minotaur and transforming his city into a major regional power.
Cadmus was the founder of the city of Thebes and served as its first king. At the end of his life, he was transformed into a serpent as punishment for failing to honor the gods.
Pentheus, son of Echion and Agave, was a king of Thebes who opposed the god Dionysus. As punishment for this impiety, Dionysus forced Pentheus’ own mother to kill him.