“Greek Trilogy” staged in Chittagong
Theatre aficionados of Chittagong were in for a treat on Friday evening as they experienced Greek Trilogy, a combination of three classic Greek tragedies – "Oedipus", "Oedipus at Colonus" and "Antigone" -- penned by Greek playwright Sophocles, staged at Theatre Institute, Chittagong.
To mark its 20th founding anniversary, Fame organised the event which was dedicated to renowned Tagore singer Ustad Mihir Nandy.
On the occasion, theatre enthusiasts of the city thronged at TIC to enjoy the three-hour long play.
The myth of Oedipus -- which also appears briefly in Homer -- represents the story of a man's doomed attempt to outwit fate. Sophocles' tragedy dramatises Oedipus' painful discovery of his true identity, and the despairing violence the truth unleashes in him.
As the play opens, Oedipus, king of Thebes, receive a group of citizens led by an old priest. The priest describes the plague that is destroying the city - which has brought famine and sickness. Recalling Oedipus' early triumph over the Sphinx, the priest begs the king to save Thebes once more.
Oedipus expresses his sympathy and concern, and announces that he has already sent his brother-in-law Creon to the oracle in an effort to end the plague. As Oedipus speaks, Creon returns with the oracle's message: The plague will end when the murderer of Laius (the former King) is killed or banished.
Oedipus immediately swears to take action to find the murderer and save the city.
After a little break, the next show "Oedipus at Colonus" started. The story depicts Oedipus, former king of Thebes, being a blind beggar wandering from a place to another. Considered a pariah because of his sins, Oedipus suffers abuse and rejection everywhere he goes.
The last of part of the trilogy was "Antigone". She, daughter of Oedipus, defies a civil law forbidding the burial of Polynices, her brother, in order to uphold the divine law requiring that the dead be put to rest with proper rituals.
Fame's chief Ashim Das, a teacher of Dramatics Department of Chittagong University, directed the plays. Ashim also designed the lights, sets, costumes and music of the plays.
Mubidur Rahman Sujat, Jitu, Boby, Utpal, Bappy, Rumel, Komol, Nancy, Prem, Sumon, Nishi and Aabir played important roles in the plays.
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