Sophocles’ play is transported to Reagan’s America in this colourful production from Vine and Light…
After an AIDS protest, a conservative cop and a gay activist lie dead, but only one receives an honourable burial. Tig, a rebellious graffiti artist, stands with best friend Henry to defy her father, Mayor Calvin, to speak out on this injustice and stigmatisation. The whole thing is narrated by a sassy Oracle in shiny silver boots, emphasising the 80s theme.
The theme of ‘silence equals war’ is eerily close to the Silence = Death slogan of the 80s AIDS crisis. I would have liked more explicit references to the epidemic, as apart from a few asides about ‘the plague’ there wasn’t much about the Thebes crisis. Occasionally there were tonal shifts to comedy that didn’t quite land, but the scenes between young lovers Henry and Nikolas are moving and tenderly performed, and Emmalynn Bruce is a feisty, fiery Tig.
The young cast have exceptionally great vocal chops for the synth-driven soundtrack, and the period costumes are excellent; there’s the odd anachronistic spear and shield amid the guards’ guns, but the shoulderpads and neon makeup are on point.
Antigone 1989 shows a lot of promise, and with a bit of polish it will shine on a no doubt bigger stage.
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Antigone 1989: A Town Hall Musical is at Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose from Aug 5-29 (not 17/24) at 15:05.