“Antigone” . . .

By Lisa Adamowicz Kless

In my senior year at UW-Parkside many years ago, I took a class that was dedicated solely to works of Greek tragedy. “Antigone” was one of the pieces that we read, and although I love literature, sadly, I can’t say that that particular play stands out as a favorite of mine. However, “Antigone” and I would cross paths again, as the second production slated for the Lakeside Players’ thirty-sixth season was an adaptation of the original. Setting aside the lukewarm feelings I had about the piece and eager to see the show, I was happy to give it another chance and see how it would be performed.

Antigone (played by Mackenzie Renner) is young, in love and engaged to a prince. When civil unrest breaks out and her brothers are killed, the new king, her uncle Creon (Jay Rattle), orders that one of the brothers be left unburied to set an example for those who might dare to challenge his power. Although she knows that defying Creon’s edict means that she’ll be put to death, Antigone decides that it’s worth risking in order to do what’s fundamentally right. As the play progresses though, the audience has to reconcile some things in their own minds: is it as simple as deeming Antigone a martyr and Creon a tyrant, or are there nuances of grey beneath what at first appears to be a case of clear-cut right and wrong?

The set was appropriately sparse in this production, making way for the stand out cast. Jim Selovich, as The Chorus, gave audience members insight into the plot and background information about each of the characters. He appeared at various points throughout the play, and while normally I’d find breaks in the action distracting, in this case I found it to be helpful, paired with his great delivery. Both Renner and Rattle gave excellent performances, especially during an impassioned exchange between Antigone and Creon regarding the choices each of them have made. The scene helped to add more depth to their characters, giving the audience pause and perhaps making them reconsider how they’d perceived each character to that point. Janel A. Johnson is new to the Lakeside Players, but I was impressed with her commanding stage presence as she brought Antigone’s sister Ismene to life. Likewise, Justin Frieman infused the character of Haemon, Antigone’s future husband, with passion. Even in challenging scenes in which the action is pantomimed, Frieman was emotional and expressive.

Helping to bring a little bit of comic relief to the (literal) tragedy were Nancy Davis as the Nurse and Eric Houghton as Jonas. Both actors had the theater echoing with laughter, and Greg Carpenter as Binns and Brian Barbour as Snout only added to the jollity. Compliments to Ken Kirby (as the Messenger), Kelly Tiemeir (as Eurydice) and Tabitha Houghton (as Creon’s dutiful page) too, for delivering great performances and rounding out a fabulous cast.

While I respect the original version of “Antigone” for the classical work that it is in its own right, thanks to director Tom Amacher, the cast and crew of the Lakeside Players’ production for giving me a new perspective and appreciation of it. Congratulations to all of them for theater that not only entertains, but also provokes and inspires.

Lakeside Players Presents “Antigone”
Time(s): Fri.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m.
Location: Rhode Center for the Arts, 514 - 56th St.
Phone: (262) 657-PLAY (7529)
Website: www.rhodeopera.org