A MODERN DAY HEROINE

Antigone ranks among the oldest remaining texts of the Classical Greek era, and exists as a reminder that governments are not infallible. When the princess Antigone’s two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, slay each other in a brutal civil war, new king and uncle to Antigone and Ismene, Creon, makes an edict by which Antigone cannot abide; that one of her brothers will be buried and the other will be left to be picked apart by the carrion, meaning he will never be able to enter the afterlife. When Antigone disobeys this decree, Creon is left in quite the quandary; follow his edict laid down, or sweep it all under the rug to avoid personal scandal. Dragged into this whole debacle is Antigone’s loving yet immature sister, Ismene, and lover, Hæmon, whom her adoptive mother, Queen Euridice, sees as the perfect match for her headstrong step-daughter. Set against the backdrop of a bloody on-going civil war, Antigone challenges the audience to ponder who is right in this power struggle for the virtue of the Polis of Thebes.

ABOUT ANTIGONE

Trust Your Gut Productions' second Fulton County production was an original adaptation of the famous Greek tragedy, Antigone, adapted by Michael Maricondi and loosely based on the 1944 version by Jean Anouilh. This powerful production gave full voice to the characters, especially the character of Antigone's sisters, Ismene, and the soldier, here given a proper name of Captain Ajax. The multimedia production, employing cutting edge ceiling projections, transferred the chorus to an ensemble of newscasters and Thebeans covering the civil war eluded to within the original text and challenging the audience to rethink their relationship with our government. Antigone received a rave review from Nippertown's Patrick White, and was attended by many of Fulton County's Young Scholars.

Antigone
Adapted and directed by Michael Maricondi
Featuring: Megan Hayner (Antigone), Mark Millan-Peek (Creon), Olivia Hanifan (Ismene),
Sonny Duross (Hæmon), Chivon Millan-Peek (Euridice), and Jay White (Ajax).
Ensemble:
Ashley Olmsted, Lillian Nevins, Jenn Flynn, Aaron Flynn,
Larissa Groesbeck, Tommy Kluska, Neo Rider, and Holly St. Andrews
Lighting Design by Christopher Ihasz
Costume Coordination by Michael Maricondi
Sets by Michael Maricondi
Projection & Sound Design by Michael Maricondi
Filming by Michael Maricondi and David LaMonica
Photography by Heather Mattioni
Poster Graphics and Design by Michael Maricondi

Patrick White’s Review for Antigone
(Nippertown, October 2023)

“Antigone”…. Brings Life to a Classic

It seems appropriate that an updated, sometimes profane take on this classic Greek text about following one’s own moral code in the face of political cowardice and expediency is being put on by a producing organization called Trust Your Gut. The producers rival the heroine for guts. Antigone is the story of the Greek princess (a wonderfully direct and emotionally present Megan Hayner) who defies the law of the land issued by her Uncle Creon (also her guardian) and buries her brother Polynices. Creon is played with a high-volume bluster and lapel grabbing intensity by Mark Millan-Peek. Antigone embodies the moral imperative to do what is right, regardless of personal cost, even to the point of death. The character’s plight and courage came through clear and strong. Maricondi has done an excellent job casting and created a fluid text that makes sense of all the divided and twisting loyalties. (Also featured are Creon’s wife Euridice played by Chivon Millan-Peek, Antigone’s sister Ismene fetchingly played by Olivia Hanifan, and Creon’s son Haemon sunnily played by Sonny Duross). There is also a fine scene with the soldier Ajax (Jay White) who must guard and spend the last hours with the prisoner, Ant. That’s right, Ant. Maricondi has also nicknamed the ruler Uncle Cre in an attempt to contemporize it. I loved his use of the building, staging the action amidst the audience and spreading it out throughout the space. The actors had no problem playing in this vast theatre and filling it vocally. Well done. It was exciting to see a theatre artist aim high and succeed on many aspects of this production... I hope it’s the first of many trips to Gloversville and this beautiful space is used as imaginatively and supported for many years to come.