Nashville Scene (New mask theater production of Oedipus the King makes Sophocles classic accessible without dumbing it down) highlighted the work of St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School‘s John Holleman (November 20) for his work in adapting Oedipus the King to our era and to the needs of local theater.

Holleman’s adaptation works to reduce the resource demands on local theater while maintaining the integrity of Sophocles’ original.

“In order to deal with the logistical problems of time and distance, Holleman chose to work with actors based out of the Murfreesboro area, where rehearsals were held prior to his production’s debut last weekend. The results are generally first-rate, especially for theatergoers who revel in the importance and vitality of epic drama and the classics.

With an eye toward a more populist appreciation for such fare, Holleman has efficiently scaled back the Sophocles, including removing the chorus altogether, and his ensemble serves up impressively well-modulated but tensely melodramatic performances that relate the primally tragic tale of a king whose honest search for the truth proves his own fateful undoing.” (NS)

It’s this kind talent sharing/overlap of resources and expertise that contributes to the richness of modern boarding school life. Situations and opportunities for schools and towns to share and collaborate inevitably give rise to greater and richer opportunities for students.

Photo credit: cdrummbks