Word: oedipuses
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Although parts of Mr. Gordon's recent review of the Oedipus plays at the Loeb were flattering, both to myself and to others for whom I think I speak, please believe that I write this in a wholly disinterested spirit...
...skill of the actors and director grew more consummate--and more distracting. Gostures were added to the speeches, and movement subtly wended its way onto the stage until I began to follow hands and not words. I saw beautiful red lights flash on the back-drop as miserable Oedipus stumbled wretchedly inside to his wife's death at the end, but I did not hear (Oedipus') screaming speech. I am sure it was perfectly spoken, but I wish I hadn't been so fascinated by the blood...
...phrase "essential action" advisedly. Mr. Gordon objects to the "fascination" of "blood-red" at the climax of Oedipus Rex. In a fully-staged production, I admit, a device of this sort would be unnecessary--but this is a "concert reading" in which, with as little actual staging as possible, an attempt is made to focus attention on the themes and meanings imbedded in the script itself: exactly what Oedipus' words are at the climactic moment is not so important as the atmosphere in which they occur, which has brought them about. Personally, I think blood-red is appropriate. The "words...
...feel no need to defend the "shattering booms of thunder" with which Mr. Gordon takes issue in Oedipus at Colonnus. They are Sophocles' stage directions...
...ingredients for the second half of the program were the same, since Hamlin used almost exactly the same cast and made the expectable substitution of John Lithgow for Bramhall as Oedipus the old man. In its own way, the performance of Colonus in the Fitzgerald translation was much better, but it was also much less satisfying. Colonus is a much more complicated tragedy than the earlier Rex, and the character of the aged, sightless, beaten man makes almost impossible demands on the actor...