ANTIGONE – Still a teenager. She can barely remember the golden time when her mother was alive and her father ruled the city. As a small child, she accompanied her father Oedipus in his mad, blind wanderings. After his death, she returned to Thebes, and was taken in by Creon and Eurydice, her uncle and aunt. She has been in and out of detox facilities, alternative schools and various regimens of “tough love.”
ISMENE – Antigone’s sister, is a few years older. She too was taken in by Creon and Eurydice, and grew up under their protection. She has received countless middle-of-the-night phone calls from her sister and is skilled at talking Antigone down or raising her spirits up.
CREON – The girls’ uncle, is an ambitious businessman who has served as a key advisor to several administrations. He has seen his city through tremendously difficult times; as king, he is determined to bring back the safe and prosperous city of his childhood.
THE CHORUS – A single character, who weaves throughout the play. She knows life from many angles. When Oedipus was king, she was a servant in the palace, assigned to look after the little girls, Antigone and Ismene. In the aftermath of Jocasta’s suicide and Oedipus’ madness, she lost her job and lived by her wits, drifting from one position to another, and even living on the streets for a time. Eventually she landed her present employment as a guard in the women’s prison. She has avidly followed the travails of the royal family from afar, through the tabloids and street murmurs.
Antigone Now is written to be performed by four actors. It is important that the cast reflect the diversity of the community in which the play is being performed; for the brief duration of the play, these four actors are the world.
The role of the Chorus, originally written for a single performer, may be expanded to include up to 8 performers, and the lines may be distributed accordingly.
Antigone Now is written to be performed by four actors. It is important that the cast reflect the diversity of the community in which the play is being performed; for the brief duration of the play, these four actors are the world.
The role of the Chorus, originally written for a single performer, may be expanded to include up to 8 performers, and the lines may be distributed accordingly.