From left, Macee Schmidt and Hannah Crawford (as sisters Ismene and Antigone, respectively) argue about their brother’s burial.
It’s the year 3021, and a civil war has just ended in Thebes, Greece. Antigone wants to bury her brother, Polyneices, but Chancellor Creah says anyone who buries this traitor will be put to death. Antigone does it, anyway, brazenly broadcasting her crime on the public cloud and thereby risking her own life.
That’s the premise of Centreville High’s upcoming play, “Antigone: 3021,” which takes place in a futuristic world where people use technology to document what’s happening and express their views. And in this creative retelling of the Sophocles tragedy, “Antigone,” the Greek chorus is instead a TV talk show and the characters communicate via virtual projection.
The show features a cast and crew of 30, and Director Patrick McGee is proud of all of them. “This was originally written in 2020 as a play that could be done on Zoom,” he explained. “So it’s been cool to take some of their moments and bring them to the stage.”
The curtain rises Friday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 23, at 2 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 24, at 2 p.m. Tickets are adults, $12; students, $10; at the door or via www.theatrecentreville.com. Due to mature themes, it’s recommended for middle-schoolers and above.
It’s also Centreville’s Cappies entry. “The last two years, we’ve done musicals for Cappies, so I wanted the actors and techs who do more dramatic shows to have their chance to shine,” said McGee. “Our theater season’s theme is ‘A Mythical Season,’ based on myths, history and folklore.”
“I also wanted to expose the students to the classics, but with a modern adaptation to make it more accessible to them,” he continued. “And setting it in the future lets their creativity come through – especially in the technical elements, such as props, LED lighting and even the way they arrive onstage via hologram.”
McGee’s also been pleased to see the actors “doing their homework as performers – researching their characters and the play’s themes, plus connecting to the original play by Sophocles. That’s enhanced the work they’re creating onstage, and the hard work they’ve done to learn their monologues is really paying off.”
The scenes take place in the teenage bedrooms of Antigone’s sister and boyfriend; the set of a TV news program, the Vista; Creah’s office; Antigone’s jail cell; and the Octagon Room (a play on the Oval Office).
“The question is, how do we honor someone’s life after they’re gone?” said McGee. “And how can people be true to themselves?”
Senior Breanna Zazzara plays Chancellor Creah. “She was related to the former ruler and, after he died, she appointed herself ruler,” said Zazzara. “She says what she believes in and is a bit self-centered. She thinks she’s above everyone else and no one else’s opinions really matter.
“She’s not afraid to step over the line as a ruler, and she throws Antigone in jail and plans to have her executed. In Creah’s eyes, Polyneices was a traitor because he disagreed with the chancellor before her. I enjoy this role because Creah’s loud and demanding and likes bossing people around. It’s the opposite of my personality, so it’s nice to step out of my comfort zone. Playing a villain is really fun.”
Zazzara said this play teaches many lessons, including that “people can have different opinions without being criticized and/or punished. Audiences will also learn about what could go through the mind of an unjust ruler – that if they think they’re above others, no one can stand up to them. It’s really interesting to see how the storyline plays out. You’re wondering what’ll happen next and what each character will do.”
Portraying Antigone is senior Hannah Crawford. “She’s 17, impulsive, has a fiery personality and isn’t afraid to stand up for what she thinks is right,” said Crawford. “She’s the daughter of Oedipus, the former chancellor, and is Creah’s niece. Antigone was really close to her brother, and they shared many of the same viewpoints. She loves him and wants him, and everyone, to have the respect due them.”
“Antigone is mean sometimes because of the anger built up inside her, so finding different ways to show that has been fun,” said Crawford. “It’s been a lot of work, but I feel honored to be in a lead role. It’s super special to me, and I’m excited to play her.”
She said the show’s message is about “staying true to who you are, even when others tell you you’re wrong. It’s important to stick to your values, and I think the audience will appreciate how many levels there are in the story. You have to pay attention to it. There are lots of moments that give you goosebumps and leave you thinking about the way people treat each other and how important your own voice is. People tend to think they’re just one person, so their voice doesn’t matter, but it really does.”
Sophomore Macee Schmidt plays Antigone’s sister Ismene, a vlogger who “puts every second of her life online and also describes what’s going on in her family and with Creah’s new law that decreed no one can bury her brother. She also tells what she and her sister think about it. Ismene’s vlog is so popular, she believes she won’t get in trouble for expressing her feelings, and she’s reflecting the general reaction of the city residents.
“She’s bubbly and out there – an energetic, loud extrovert, passionate about what she does. She’s also a little self-centered; but deep down, she cares a lot about her sister and the people close to her. It’s fun playing Ismene and embracing her quirkiness, loudness and silliness. As an introvert in real life, it’s refreshing to play such a confident character.”
Schmidt said audiences will like this show because “it’s dark and dramatic, with a disturbing undertone. People can use their own experiences to connect with the characters and become more immersed in the storyline. And we use modern-day speech and technology, so it’s easy to understand.”
Portraying Antigone’s boyfriend Haemon is junior Antonio Agosto-Reyes. “He has a history of being rash and not thinking before he speaks,” said Agosto-Reyes. “His relationship with Antigone has become a little less stable, but they still care about each other. He’s initially cautious and reserved with people; but once he’s passionate about something, words just flow out of his mouth.”
Agosto-Reyes especially likes playing Haemon toward the latter part of the show when he gets to be “loud and more expressive and show the instability in his train of thought – because in the past, when he’s said the wrong things, he’s had to deal with the consequences.”
Because of this play’s many monologues, “People can focus on one character at a time and really get to know them,” said Agosto-Reyes. “They’ll also like how the entertainers in the TV show, ‘The Vista,’ comment on ‘Antigone 3021’s’ action, in place of a traditional Greek chorus. Audiences will love their scenes because the actors in them really knock it out of the park.”
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Junior Madelyn Regan, the play’s marketing manager, had multiple social-media accounts created for each character on Instagram. “We’re also showcasing information on the first two plays in Sophocles’ ‘Oedipus’ play series so audiences can get a better idea of the story before seeing the production,” she said. For a list of these accounts, go to @theatrecville.