THEATER IN AMERICA: ANTIGONE (TV)
Summary
One in this series of regional theater productions. This production, filmed in the lobby and reception area of New York's Juilliard School, presents Jean Anouilh's updated version of the Sophocles tragedy, which draws parallels between Antigone's martyrdom and the French Resistance under the Vichy government. In Act I, Antigone, defying a proclamation forbidding the burial of her brother, Polynices, returns in the early morning after performing the sacred burial rites. Ignorant of her sister's actions, Ismene begs Antigone to bury their brother, and Antigone's fiance, Haemon, son of King Creon, arrives. Alone, he and Antigone exchange their last vows of love before Antigone sends him away. In Act II, Creon learns of the burial and orders Polynices' body exhumed. Guards catch Antigone burying the body once more and bring her before Creon. Despite his impassioned plea, Creon fails to persuade Antigone to give up her cause. Faced with Antigone's resolve, Creon sentences her to be buried alive in a cave. Antigone's fiance, Haemon, the son of Creon, begs his father to release Antigone, to no avail. On the eve of her burial, the now fearful Antigone persuades a guard to deliver a farewell to Haemon before she hangs herself. A messenger arrives in court with news of Antigone's death and Haemon's suicide, and Creon's wife dies of grief. In the face of all the tragedy, Creon determines to survive and await his lonely death.
(This program originally aired on PBS on Oct. 7, 1972, as part of the Playhouse New York series.)
Details
- NETWORK: PBS WNET New York, NY
- DATE: February 13, 1974 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:31:14
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T88:0148
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Greek drama (Tragedy); Theater
- SERIES RUN: WNET (New York, NY) - TV series, 1974-1979
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jac Venza … Executive Producer
- David Griffiths … Producer
- Gerald Freedman … Director
- Jean Anouilh … Writer
- Sophocles … Writer, Based on the play by
- Lewis Galantiere … Adapted by
- Genevieve Bujold … Cast, Antigone
- Stacy Keach … Cast, the Chorus
- Leah Chandler … Cast, Ismene
- James Naughton … Cast, Haemon
- Fritz Weaver … Cast, Creon
- Shawn McGill … Cast, Page
- Peter Brandon … Cast, Messenger
- Betty Miller … Cast, Eurydice
- Aline MacMahon … Cast, Nurse
- Louis Zorich … Cast, Jonas
- Frederick Coffin … Cast, Second Guard
- Edwin Owens … Cast, Third Guard