Classical World

ABSTRACT:

The Oedipus at Colonus presents us with a difficult choice if we are to understand its original staging: the play must either use four actors or at least one role must be shared between more than one actor. Based on comparable experimentalism seen in other late plays of Sophocles, I argue that the character of Theseus should be divided among the three actors. This role-splitting creates two dramatic benefits. One, it enables Sophocles to enhance the dramatic subtext of particular scenes when the Theseus actor changes. Two, it allows Sophocles to make Theseus and his actions a reflection of Athenian democratic values.