The University of Notre Dame’s Department of Film, Television, and Theatre (FTT) will conclude its 2000-01 mainstage season with “Oedipus Rex,” April 25-29 (Wednesday-Sunday) at Washington Hall on campus.p. The classic Greek tragedy by Sophocles will be presented with some contemporary twists by Anthony Lawton, visiting assistant professor of FTT, who is making his mainstage directorial debut with a 12-member student cast.p. “Oedipus Rex” tells the tale of a Corinthian Prince who was fated to discover that he had killed his father, King Laius, and married his mother, Jocasta. According to the legend, Laius, warned that he would be killed by his son, abandoned him to die. Oedipus survived, however, and was adopted by the king of Corinth. After learning his fate years later, Oedipus fled Corinth and along the way killed Laius, an apparent stranger. He continued to the Greek city of Thebes, where he solved the riddle of the Sphinx and was rewarded with the hand of the widowed Jocasta. After learning that he had fulfilled the tragic prophecy, Oedipus gouges out his eyes and casts himself into a life of exile.p. To make the play more accessible to contemporary audiences, Lawton, scenic designer Bruce Auerbach and costume designer Richard Donnelly have modernized it to draw parallels between ancient Thebes and today’s politically driven society. The set includes an Oval Office in a 21st-century Thebes, and Oedipus looks less like a king and more like a president. Chorus work has been added to heighten the dream-like quality of the play.p. Junior Matt Lee is cast in the title role and senior Jamie Mayer plays Jocasta. Senior Sarah Ryan serves as stage manager and sophomore Kat Walsh is the choreographer.p. “Oedipus Rex” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. April 25-28 and at 2:30 p.m. April 29. Tickets are $9 for reserved seats and are available at the door or in advance at the LaFortune Student Center box office. Student and senior citizen discounts are available for all performances at $6 and $8 respectively. For Visa, Discover or MasterCard orders, call (219) 631-8128.
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