Greek tragedies are replete with demonstrative emotions. By contrast, Japanese theatrical styles are, in my experience, typically on the cooler ends of the emotional spectrum. As a result, I had my doubts when buying my ticket to Director Satoshi Miyagi’s take on “Antigone” as presented by his Shizuoka Performing Arts Center which is now playing at the Park Avenue Armory through October 6. But the concept seemed intriguing enough that I thought it was worth seeing, if only for the novelty of the approach.
I am pleased to report that this must see production of “Antigone” is an astonishing melding of Greek & Japanese themes and styles that left me gobsmacked and deeply moved. Beautifully staged in the immense Armory Drill Hall space, this show provides an ample feast for the eyes, ears and minds of its viewers. The staging is artfully composed, the movements are expertly precise and the music hypnotically merges with the action on stage.
What is especially surprising is how timely this show feels given its themes on abuse of power and the tension between the state and moral authorities. Indeed, one cannot escape drawing parallels between this work and the whistleblower developments in Washington over the past week. But of course, these themes are ones Sophocles was writing about almost 2500 years ago, and this production serves as a powerful reminder of the immutable essences of human nature that were expertly explored by our theatrical ancestors.
