Lighting the Greek Stage

Much of Oedipus the King involves dull coloring and a large amount of bland, as does much Greek theater (as seen below). For example, the color of the stones and pillars, the color of masks, and the color of costuming. Through all of this, there is a sense of simplicity. It allows the audience to focus on the action and not of the abundance of things surrounding whats going on in the play. Although the lights should not be very outrageous and different from the current concept of simplicity, some "pop" wouldn't hurt and could in fact help the engagement of the audience. A good example is when Oedipus is weeping blood near the end of the play. This could be a lighting effect as apposed to a prop or costuming effect. A simple red light could indicate, along with the actors involvement, that he has gouged out his own eyes. Making the one use of color mean something, making the light itself representational and simple. Anything that can be done to accomplish the simplicity and representation of the Greek tragedy Oedipus the King is beneficial.


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Pictures found on Google Images (Search Result: lighting greek plays)

Bleeding from the Eyes

At a pivotal point in Oedipus the King, Oedipus emerges from his chambers after gouging out his eyes, and is literally weeping blood. It seems an essential part of Greek tragedy is blood and in a way the story travels around it. The method used for applying stage blood is essential in these situations because it is such a vital part of the performance. Because the play is mostly representational, it is important to stick with the concept. So using something that represents bleeding from the eyes is more effective in engaging the audience. Something as realistic and grotesque wouldn't be suitable for a play that was filled with representation. If the play were to be without masks and more realistic, this would be a good method of portraying his loss of eyes. But for representation it would be suitable for red cloth to be draped from the eye holes in Oedipus' mask or a red spot light to be aimed on Oedipus with his actions speaking for his loss of eyes. Something simplistic fits better when surrounded by representation.


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Pictures found on Google Images (Search Result: Oedipus eyes bleeding)

The Essential Greek Masks

With Oedipus being a classic Greek Tragedy, one important part to the authenticity of the performance is the use of masks. It provides a sense of unity to the cast and is a tradition for Greek plays. Although they do not serve the same purpose they did in ancient times, it still acts as an essential aspect and provides an authentic experience. Although they are meant to unify, the actual masks themselves had different attributes attached to differentiate them from each other. As stated from the primary source Iulius Pollux on Scenes, Machines, and Masks, different characters had different masks. For example, young men's masks "are the common, curled, more curled, graceful,..." (Pollux 10). This could be contrasted by the tragic hero himself, such as Oedipus, who's mask is "...[a] smooth-faced man, a white, grisled, black haired..." (Pollux 10). Although they are different, all masks are essential to the uniformity and representation of Ancient Greek Tragedies.


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Pictures found on Google Images (Search Result: Greek Chorus)


Pollux, Iulius. "Pollux On Scenes, Machines, and Masks." A Source Book in Theatrical History. Comp. A. M. Nagler. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., Print.

Background Knowledge of Greek Tragedy

Oedipus the King has a large amount of historical significance. It has been a basis for psychological idealism, a metaphor used in many subjects, and an overall representation of what Greek tragedy is. According to Jan Parker, writer of The Patchwork Text in Teaching Greek Tragedy, it is vitally important to have a grasp on the history of Oedipus and the story in order to teach the audience viewing the play. It is a teach, in order to teach scenario. The director and dramaturg's duty is to teach the cast and crew (along with the cast and crew doing research of their own), as well as it being the cast and crews job to teach the story to the audience. It is important to look at a historical story from a teaching stand point, which is what Parker talks about in her short monograph. Applying this to Oedipus the King, the audience should be able to walk away from the show with a basis of knowledge about the story and its historical relevance.


Work Cited:
Parker, Jan. "The Patchwork Text in Teaching Greek Tragedy." Innovations in Education & Teaching International. 40.2 (2003): 180-94. Print.

Importance of Greek Chorus Unity

According to Oxford Reference Online, Greek Chorus is defined as "a group of performers who comment on the main action, typically speaking and moving together". This is generally associated with Greek Tragedies such as Oedipus the King. In terms of costuming and staging, it is important to unify every member of the chorus. With costuming, assuming everyone will be in traditional Greek costuming, all chorus members should be identical. The purpose is to be one entity (move and talk as one) as suggested in the definition. All costuming should be assisting the notion of unity. Staging should be approached the same way. They should move as a group and interact as a group. If one person stands out from the rest they are no longer a Greek chorus. The scenery should also assist the staging in accomplishing this goal. Everything should contribute to the concept of a large group moving as one because it is the authentic approach to Greek tragedy.




Work Cited:

Pictures found on Google Images (Search Result: Greek Chorus)

"Greek chorus"  The Oxford Dictionary of Reference and Allusion. by Andrew Delahunty and Sheila Dignen. Oxford University Press Inc. The Oxford Dictionary of Reference and Allusion. Oxford University Press.  Central Washington University.  1 November 2010  <http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t314.e826>

Most Effective Translation of Oedipus the King

It is important to have a good translation when presenting Ancient Greek plays. The most important aspects are keeping it modern enough to allow audience members to follow and stay connected, but still keeping the text authentic and keeping it as "greeky" as possible. The most effective translation that best fits these two criteria is David Grene's translation as found in The Complete Greek Tragedies Anthology edited by David Grene and Richmond Lattimore. The text has been translated in a way that flows easily and is comprehensible for anyone reading it. But the authenticity still holds true and allows you the audience to believe in the ancient Greek setting the play is in. So in watching it, they aren't seeing a modernized version. For example, they aren't viewing modernized version of Oedipus the King as told in "gangsta slang". The audience gets a feel for the language, but still is able to stay engaged.



Work Cited:

Sophocles, "Oedipus the King." The Complete Greek Tragedies. Ed. David Grene and Richmond Lattimore. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1942. Print.

Thrust/Arena seating for Oedipus the King

In traditional Greek theater, stages were set in thrust or arena seating. This was done in respects to the God, and by this inspired a theater space that best represents authentic Greek theater. For the most representational feel to Oedipus the King, it should be done in thrust or arena seating as seen in the video: Ancent Greek Theatre Staging. It is a segment posted from Discovery Channel's "Seven Wonders of Ancient Greece". The benefit is not only site lines and being able to place pillars and other structures throughout more area of the stage, but also to tribute to the God's Sophocles once did. It also provides a more intamate setting performing in a modern day thrust/arena seating area, which is significantly smaller than that of Greek times, but still providing the same structure. If the stage is the same as it was in ancient times, the authenticity is much more credible and would engage the audience more.


Work Cited:
Ancient Greek Theater.flv -- Video found on www.youtube.com (Search Result: Ancient Greek Theater)