“…None of what I did was freely chosen…
…There was no sin…
…I have justice on my side…
…My hands are clean.
I was driven to my deeds without knowing…”
So says the Oedipus of playwright/director Carey Perloff’s adaptation of Sophocles’ original 5th Century B.C. script that first put the puzzle of free will on Western Civilization’s radar.
Oedipus’ six ways to Sundays aver of his blamelessness —as do all the explications of past events in this script, most quite long and wordy—come across loud and clear in the austere and striking landscape of this set. Layered stone cutaways frame the action. In the center of the set, as in the story as a whole, there is a shrine to the Gods. Even when the action moves to a hummingbird filled orchard, what we see and feel is stark.
The Gods— Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, Artemis, Apollo et al—-never strut onto the stage themselves, except perhaps in the form of lightening bolts across the barren landscape to give a sign—one of the more striking stagecraft WOWs of the production.
Invisible though they may be, it is the Gods who drive the action. The humans just play out the roles they were given, aka their destinies. This is especially true of Michael Hayden’s combative Oedipus, who bows to the Gods, but at the same time often seems poised to rage against the storm.
PlayMakers Assembles Top Notch Acting Talents in the Many Cameo Roles
From time to time the Greek Chorus rises from their folding directors’ chairs to chime in with original songs (composed and performed by David Coulter) that emote the zeitgeist. These aren’t toe tapping tunes, but you might concur their song and the music communicates in ways that spoken words alone cannot.
In this writer’s view, it is the standout performances in the smaller roles that most engage. Reminding of a crouching grasshopper, magnetic actress Nike Imoru as the blind soothsayer Teresias conveys the ins and outs of his past crimes to the unbelieving Oedipus. Similarly, Jim Bray swallows his frame into half its size, transforming into the Old Shepherd whose words drive Jacosta (Tia James) to hang herself offstage and Oedipus (Michael Hayden) to gouge his eyes while we watch. In this writer’s view, these more physical moments—including Oedipus’ self-blinding ick— are small oases in an otherwise word-heavy adaptation.
We learn from the program notes that the playwright hopes to strike chords also by amplifying how Sophocles’ script resonates with today’s hot topics of immigration, adoption and identity, etc. That duly noted, in this reviewer’s opinion this adaptation will have the strongest appeal for those with a pre-existing ardent passion for the Ancient Greek classics. Hardcore classics lovers will find much to love in PlayMaker Rep’s production.
CAST:
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Jeff Aguiar
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Dawson Boudreaux
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Jim Bray
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Jeffrey Blair Cornell
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Samuel Ray Gates
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Julia Gibson
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Michael Hayden
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Nike Imoru
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Delaney Jackson
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Tia James
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Caroline Marques
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Trevele Morgan
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Adam Moskowitz
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Celeste Pelletier
CREATIVE TEAM:
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Carey Perloff - Adapter / Director
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David Coulter - Composer
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Lex Liang - Scenic & Costume Designer
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Robert Wierzel - Lighting Designer
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Adam Versenyí - Dramaturg
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Tracy Bersley - Choreographer
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Jane Shaw - Sound Designer
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Gwendolyn Schwinke - Vocal Coach
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Chayton Fiar - Script Supervisor
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Aspen Blake Jackson - Stage Manager
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Devon Currie - Assistant Stage Manager
WHEN:
Thru September 27, 2026
WHERE:
Joan H. Gillings Center for Dramatic Art
120 Country Club Road
Chapel Hill, NC
TICKETS:
For more information and tickets visit the PlayMakers Repertory Company website.
Photos: HuthPhoto
Read an earlier Picture This Post review of another modern adaptation of Sophocles’ Oedipus— American Players Theatre Presents OEDIPUS Review — As Fate Would Have It
Click here to read more Picture This Post PlayMakers Rep stories.
About the Author: Amy Munice
Amy Munice is Editor-in-Chief and Co-Publisher of Picture This Post. She covers books, dance, film, theater, music, museums and travel. Prior to founding Picture This Post, Amy was a freelance writer and global PR specialist for decades—writing and ghostwriting thousands of articles and promotional communications on a wide range of technical and not-so-technical topics.
