THEBAN PLAYS, THE, III: ANTIGONE (TV)
Summary
This drama, the third play in the Theban trilogy by the Greek playwright Sophocles, focuses on Oedipus' daughter Antigone, and what transpires after her father's death. Antigone's two brothers have killed each other in a battle over the leadership of Thebes. One, Eteocles, is buried with ceremony; the other, Polynices, is deemed a traitor and left in the battlefield as food for the birds. Antigone's uncle, Creon, the newly appointed King of Thebes, has issued a public decree that Polynices' body must be left on the battlefield undisturbed; the penalty is death to anyone who disobeys his order. After failing to convince her sister, Ismene, to help give Polynices a decent burial, Antigone leaves to entomb him on her own. Creon summons a public assembly with his Senators (Chorus). During the meeting, a soldier arrives and announces that Polynices' body has mysteriously disappeared. Creon suspects subversives are threatening his power, until Antigone is brought before him. Antigone, who was caught in the act of burying her brother, admits her guilt and defends Ismene's innocence before being locked away. Creon's son, Haemon, who is betrothed to Antigone, arrives at the palace to inform Creon that public opinion supports Antigone's actions, and to beg him to reconsider his decision to condemn her to death. When Creon remains unyielding, Haemon leaves the palace, vowing to join Antigone in death. Creon orders that Antigone be buried alive by being walled up in a cave. As the Senators lament the death sentence, Antigone is led away to the cave. The blind prophet Teiresias arrives and warns Creon that the gods and the world will punish him for denying Polynices a proper burial and for putting Antigone to death. The Senators convince Creon that he must put aside his pride and stubbornness and free Antigone. Before Creon can free her, however, a messenger returns from the cave and announces that Antigone and Haemon have committed suicide. The Queen, Eurydice, overhears the news and silently walks away. A distraught Creon arrives at the palace with the body of his son, and while lamenting his death is informed of Eurydice's suicide. The Senators declare that only through suffering does an old man become wise, as Creon, nearly mad with guilt and suffering, sits alone on his throne. No commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: A&E
- DATE: September 24, 1987 Thursday 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:51:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T89:0328
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Theater; Greek drama
- SERIES RUN: A&E - TV, 1987
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Louis Marks … Producer
- Don Taylor … Producer, New translation by
- Sophocles … Writer
- Derek Bourgeois … Composer, Conductor
- Catherine Edwards … Choral Director, Repetiteur (choral coach)
- Endymion Ensemble, The … Music Group, Music played by
- Juliet Stevenson … Cast, Antigone
- Gwen Taylor … Cast, Ismene
- John Shrapnel … Cast, Creon
- Tony Selby … Cast, the Soldier
- Mike Gwilym … Cast, Haemon
- John Gielgud … Cast, Teiresias
- Bernard Hill … Cast, the Messenger
- Rosalie Crutchley … Cast, Eurydice
- Patrick Barr … Cast, One of a Chorus of Theban Senators
- Paul Daneman … Cast, One of a Chorus of Theban Senators
- Donald Eccles … Cast, One of a Chorus of Theban Senators
- Robert Eddison … Cast, One of a Chorus of Theban Senators
- Patrick Godfrey … Cast, One of a Chorus of Theban Senators
- Ewan Hooper … Cast, One of a Chorus of Theban Senators
- Peter Jeffrey … Cast, One of a Chorus of Theban Senators
- Noel Johnson … Cast, One of a Chorus of Theban Senators
- Robert Lang … Cast, One of a Chorus of Theban Senators
- John Ringham … Cast, One of a Chorus of Theban Senators
- Frederick Treves … Cast, One of a Chorus of Theban Senators
- John Woodnutt … Cast, One of a Chorus of Theban Senators