• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • New York
  • Latin
  • Culture
  • Magazine
  • Things To Do in NYC
  • Travel
  • Search
  • Subscribe
  • Sponsor

New York Latin Culture Magazine™

World-class Indigenous, European & African Culture since 2012

  • Art
  • Books
  • Comedy
  • Dance
  • Fashion
  • Food
  • Festivals
  • Film
  • Music
  • Parades
  • Theatre
  • Sports

‘Oedipus El Rey’ gets its New York Premiere at the Public Theater

October 3, 2017 by New York Latin Culture Magazine

"Oedipus El Rey" at the Public Theater

Oedipus El Rey (2015) is Luis Alfaro’s adaptation of Sophocles’ Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex, a masterpiece of Greek theatre.

The Story of Oedipus Rex

Oedipus Rex tells the story of Oedipus, king of Thebes, as he tries to resolve a plague that is ravaging his land.

Oedipus sends his brother-in-law Creon to ask the oracle at Delphi what is plaguing Thebes. Creon reports that the plague is caused by moral failure because the murderer of King Laius has never been caught.

Oedipus asks the blind prophet Tiresias for help. At first Tiresias won’t answer, saying only that Oedipus should abandon his search. When Oedipus becomes enraged and abusive, Tiresias tells the king, “You yourself are the criminal you seek.” On his way out, Tiresias  says that the murderer is a citizen of Thebes, brother and father to his own children, and son and husband to his own mother.

Oedipus is one who accepts no advice and is quick to blame others. Pursuing the answer, he attacks everyone until the answer is revealed.

On discovering that Oedipus himself is the murderer and his queen Jocasta is actually his mother,  Jocasta kills herself and Oedipus gouges out his own eyes in shame.

Oedipus Rex considers fate vs free will, responsibilities of the individual vs. the state, and seeing vs. not seeing.

Oedipus El Rey

Alfaro sets the story in the barrios of South Central, Los Angeles. Oedipus is a troubled Latino who dreams of controlling his own life. Tiresias is a life coach who charges cash. Jocasta is a spoiled rich housewife. The Greek chorus is a “coro” of gangbangers.

Oedipus El Rey in New York City

Oedipus El Rey gets its New York Premiere at the Public Theater in the East Village Tuesday – Sunday, October 3 – November 19, 2017.

Directed by Chay Yew in collaboration with The Sol Project

Cast

Juan Castano is Oedipus
Juan Francisco Villa is king Laius, the father of Oedipus
Sandra Delgado is queen Jocasta, the mother of Oedipus
Joel Perez is Creon, the brother of queen Jocasta
Julio Monge is the blind prophet Tiresias
Brian Quijada is chorus
Reza Salazar is chorus

Filed Under: LATIN THEATRE, Mexican, Public Theater, Puerto Rican

Primary Sidebar

Isabel Allende “The Wind Knows My Name” with Alicia Menendez

Isabel Allende at the 92nd Street Y, New York in 2020 (Nancy Crampton/92NY)

Yasser Tejeda Gets Everyone Dancing to His “Other Dominican” Folk Rock

Yasser Tejeda Dominican Alternative (Harlem Stage)

Things To Do in NYC This Week June 5-11, 2023

Things to do in NYC this week June 5-11, 2023 (Suero Lopez/Dreamstime)

Footer

Search

North American

African American, Indigenous, Jewish, Mexican

Caribbean

Dominican, Puerto Rican

Subscribe


We don’t share, rent, or sell addresses.

Follow

Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy

Copyright © 2012–2023 New York Latin Culture Magazine. All Rights Reserved. Tango Beat® is a registered trademark, New York Latin Culture™ and New York Latin Culture Magazine™ are trademarks of Keith Widyolar. Other marks are the property of their respective holders.