SALT LAKE CITY — Attending the Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival is something every Utah theatre aficionado should experience. And Antigone, by the Scaffold Theatre Company, is a great example of the way Fringe works. Antigone is a retelling of the ancient Greek myth of the daughter of Oedipus (also the topic of a play by Sophocles). Written by Julie-Anne Liechty and directed by Christy Summerhays, this retelling felt like a great way to introduce both independent theatre to someone who may not understand what it is like to go to a shorter show, experience shows in a smaller venue, and with simpler costumes and set.
Show closes August 7, 2022.
The story surrounds Antigone (played well by Avery Bigler), who is defying her uncle and King Creon (played by Jordon Scott), who is refusing to bury her brother who has died in battle and is seen as a traitor. One of the things I appreciated about this show is that Liechty has kept much of the traditional verbiage and classical feel of the show, making the play a good way to learn about Greek mythology. The play is also simpler in its storytelling. As a result, made aspects of the story that have been complicated for me in the past were clearer in this adaptation.
A standout in this production was Madeline Lamah as Queen Eurydice. Her ability to express emotion and her grand way of expressing words were so compelling that I was inspired every time she was on stage. I also really enjoyed the costumes by Candice Bahe. They were quite simple, with everyone having the same white base, and then a simple change for each part represented. The chorus remained in the simple base, while the soldiers had a blue layer, and the royalty had a purple layer. This simplicity was very effective.
If you have ever thought about going to Fringe but didn’t know where to start, Antigone is a great production.
These reviews are made possible by a grant from the Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks program.
