Oedipus The King -- Part 2/12

Part of "Oedipus the King" from 1984 TV production with Michael Pennington, Claire Bloom and John Shrapnel. Translated and directed by the late Don Taylor. for part 1, go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtMHltBFqlo here's a playlist with all these Oedipus videos in order: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=422B4AD5E82BE89A go here to view documentary on Tragedy in Ancient Greek Theatre: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkaMaeHNSR8 from John O'Connor's review in New York Times (1988): Mr. Marks [producer] has explained: ''What we wanted was to find a way for authentic Sophocles to speak directly to viewers in such a way that the two and a half millennia dividing us would melt away. They should be able to see into his mind as he uncannily still seems to see into ours.'' Rather than attempting authentic recreations with masks and so forth, this series aims for an ''indeterminate feel'' in setting and costuming. David Myercough-Jones has designed a spare, misty arena outside the gates to the king's palace. June Hudson's costumes are plucked from different historical periods, elegant empire gowns for Jocasta, barrister robes for the chorus, a white silk suit for Oedipus. The concept works. ''Oedipus the King,'' unfolding like some eternal mystery, is powerful. Its characters are archetypes embedded in our psyches, filling us with wonder even as we shudder. And the cast is about as good as you'll get nowadays: Michael Pennington as Oedipus, Claire Bloom as Jocasta, Sir John Gielgud as Tiresias, John Shrapnel as Creon, Cyril Cusack as a Theban citizen. ..... Television, it seems, is offering the best theater in town at the moment. Directed by Don Taylor Writing credits: Sophocles play Don Taylor translation Cast: Michael Pennington ... Oedipus Rex John Shrapnel ... Creon Michael Byrne ... Chorus Cyril Cusack ... Priest Ernest Clark ... Chorus David Collings ... Chorus Donald Eccles ... Chorus Robert Eddison ... Chorus Edward Hardwicke... Chorus Denys Hawthorne ... Chorus Noel Johnson ... Chorus Clifford Rose ... Chorus Alan Rowe ... Chorus Nigel Stock ... Chorus John Woodnutt ... Chorus Produced by Louis Marks Original Music by Derek Bourgeois Film Editing by Dave Hambelton Production Design by David Myerscough-Jones Costume Design by Jane Hudson Other crew Geoffrey Lewis .... classical advisor